A cultural hub, open from every side

Designed to be equally inviting from every angle, Agnes Kulturhus in Gävle embodies openness and accessibility. The new cultural centre, which houses the city’s main library together with community and exhibition spaces, integrates Kvadrat Shade roller blinds and a wide range of Kvadrat textiles to enhance comfort, flexibility and aesthetic cohesion throughout the interior.

The building’s fluid, rounded façade creates a sense of movement and welcome, ensuring a consistent experience from all directions. Its golden sand-coloured cladding, inspired by the surrounding ochre brick and plaster facades, reflects Gävle’s architectural heritage. Horizontal ribbons across the façade pay homage to the 1960s building that previously occupied the site, maintaining a dialogue between past and present.

“We can only guess what the libraries of the near future will look like. It was therefore imperative to us that the building be as flexible as possible” Johan Forsman Sachs, Architect SAR/MSA at Nyréns

From the outside, the façade and shading work in harmony. The metallised Clearview textile reflects sunlight with a thin layer of aluminium on their exterior-facing side, reducing heat and glare while visually blending with the golden façade. This cohesion between façade and blinds strengthens the architectural unity and supports the building’s refined expression.

Inside, the design focuses on flexibility. The structural system of pillars and beams allows interior walls to be added or removed as the needs of the library and community evolve. This approach ensures that the building can adapt to the changing role of public spaces and the future of libraries.

“A key challenge in the project was to integrate roller blinds that would contribute to climate control and energy efficiency without compromising aesthetics or sustainability. We were looking for a phthalate-free solution with a refined expression” Ernesto Garcia Interior Architect and furniture designer SIR /MSA PhD candidate, Nyréns Arkitektkontor

Light, comfort, and clarity
Kvadrat Shade roller blinds with Clearview provide refined control of natural light throughout the building. The blinds are centrally operated and connected to a sensor-based system that automatically adjusts them in response to sunlight, ensuring optimal performance and consistent indoor comfort. Users can also operate the blinds manually when needed.

Visual comfort for reading and learning
Clearview offers an excellent balance of visual and thermal comfort, essential qualities in a library setting. Glare is minimised while maintaining clear outward visibility, creating bright, comfortable reading areas, and preserving the building’s sense of openness. The Minimal Bracket system, designed by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec, supports the architecture’s sense of openness when installing the roller blinds solution.

“We chose Kvadrat products for their exceptional durability, timeless aesthetic, and commitment to sustainable production” Ernesto Garcia Interior Architect and furniture designer SIR /MSA PhD candidate, Nyréns Arkitektkontor

Textiles that bring spaces to life
Across the interior, Kvadrat textiles add tactile depth. Materials such as Twill Weave, Raas, Watercolour, Balboa, Zulu 2, Floyd Screen, Tonus 4 and Steelcut Trio 3 were chosen for their balance of texture, tone and performance, creating calm reading areas as well as vibrant communal zones.

Designed for the future
Every aspect of Agnes Kulturhus has been conceived with longevity and adaptability in mind. From the durable, light-reflecting façade to the flexible interior layout and high-performing Kvadrat solutions, the building sets a new standard for sustainable, human-centred public design in Gävle.

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