Grounded sound; Rethinking the contemporary concert hall through ecological integration at Sjöbacka tippen

Abstract

This master’s thesis addresses whether public architecture can transcend its traditional role as a static monument to become an active participant in a new reality defined by nature, user experience, and sustainability. Historically, the design of public buildings has been driven by a desire to create visually striking icons, frequently emphasizing the importance of their expression while giving limited consideration to their broader ecological context. This project challenges environmental isolation by re-evaluating the traditional concert hall, a typology typically characterized by its monumental detachment, by proposing instead a “Grounded Sound” that operates as an adaptive design situated in a natural environment. Based on the artificial landscape of Sjöbacka Tippen, a site defined by demolition waste, water, and low biodiversity, the research explores both land regeneration strategies and architecture that intends to shift from being a static, isolated element toward becoming an ecologically integrated design embedded within its terrain. The methodology follows a three-stage approach. The first stage restores the site’s topography through regenerative strategies, transforming the artificial industrial ground into an ecological foundation that supports natural habitats and enhances biodiversity. The second stage introduces a responsive architectural system in which the building envelope serves as an adaptive interface, adjusting to the surrounding landscape and blurring the boundary between architecture and nature. The final stage develops the detailed design of the concert hall, which integrates aesthetic quality with the recovering ecosystem and technical and acoustic excellence. As a result, this concept demonstrates a shift in focus towards a more modest approach, illustrating how concert hall design can serve as a tool for ecological stabilization rather than disruption. By incorporating nature-oriented design and technical rigor, the resulting proposal proves that the primary function of a music hall can be enhanced through its relationship with the environment. Ultimately, the work suggests that the future of public architecture lies in its ability to foster a deeper, more balanced connection between humans and ecosystems, proving that sustainability and cultural excellence are not mutually exclusive but, in fact, deeply interdependent.