A Transformation of the Orangery at Stora Sundby Slott; Submerged in Heritage

Abstract

This thesis explores how culturally protected environments can evolve to meet contemporary needs without compromising their historical integrity. Set within the cultural heritage site of Stora Sundby Slott, the project investigates the refurbish ment, adaptive reuse and extension of the 19th-century Orangery, transforming it from a seasonal café into a year-round venue for events and dining. The thesis is centered around the investigation of the palimpsest view, where ar chitecture is seen as a layered record of continual change, as described in Adap tive Reuse of the Built Heritage: Concepts and Cases of an Emerging Discipline (Plevoets & Van Cleempoel, 2019). The process is structured as a sequence, allowing theoretical ideas to be translated into spatial concepts and systematical ly tested. The concepts respond to three branches of palimpsest, being Imitatio, Inventio and Aemulatio. These concepts are evaluated based on a set of crite ria derived from the County Administrative Board’s Knowledge Base for Stora Sundby (Länsstyrelsen Södermanland, n.d.). The concept which answered best to the criteria was Aemulatio, which was further investigated and developed into the final design proposal. The proposal is partially submerged, allowing it to be integrated within the terrain rather than appearing as an isolated object. Strict lines from the Orangery extend into the addition, and the architectural elements are curated to direct attention toward the key qualities of the estate. The estate’s entrance has a prominent vi sual connection to the Castle, which is framed by the Orangery on one side and lake Hjälmaren on the other. With a low addition that is embedded into the terrain it avoids disturbing the first impression of the site. Inside the building, the expe rience shifts. The placement of the addition instead strengthens its connection to the estate by opening views toward the water and Castle from both the upper and lower levels. The project examines how materiality, construction and site-specific interven tions can contribute to the extended life, use and value of historic architecture. The result is a proposal that bridges heritage conservation and contemporary transformation, ensuring the continuity of Stora Sundby’s architectural and cultu ral narrative.