Remains of another time; how can Masthugget 8;11 host new programatic functions while keeping its historical aspects from former uses

Abstract

What imbues a space with its magic? Can such a question ever truly be answered? Perhaps not definitively. Yet, from an empirical standpoint, people are undeniably drawn to the echoes of the past – to the remnants of bygone eras that possess the ability to fascinate and ignite our curiosity. Projects like the Jewish Museum in Stockholm exemplify how contemporary transformation attempts can captivate while still paying homage to a building’s historical significance and meeting modern technological, safety, and accessibility standards. They underscore the notion that a meticulously orchestrated transformation can often prove more captivating than leaving a space untouched, seemingly frozen in time. Embracing an approach that balances addition and subtraction spatially, this project strive to preserve what can be preserved, safeguarding the building’s antiquarian values, while judiciously integrating necessary additions to meet the demands of modern functionality, safety, and accessibility. The envisioned transformation of Masthugget 8:11 into a hotel embod this ethos. It acknowledges that a place’s identity is a composite of its historical lineage and former functions, as well as its contemporary purpose. It seeks to weave together architectural elements, remnants, character, and narratives intimately tied to the space’s identity. These vestiges of another time, still palpable within these walls through structural features, material textures, and weathered patinas, serve as conduits to a bygone era, offering a narrative thread that connects past and present. They will be harnessed as tools to seamlessly integrate new additions with the space’s inherent identity, sculpting a new physical realm that combine the realms of fiction and reality