Sunnerö Architects: Design to make a difference

By Malin Norman | Photos: Sunnerö Architects

Sunnerö Architects is a dynamic and forward-thinking architectural and design firm with a team driven by passion and curiosity. Its winning proposal for a residential block north of Malmö is currently under construction and due to be inaugurated next year.

Gothenburg based Sunnerö Architects was founded in 2019 by Anna Sunnerö. With extensive experience as an architect both in Sweden and internationally, she has established a firm that now consists of 12 architects, designers and engineers. The team manages projects from initial concept through to design and construction.

“Our team is experienced and diverse, driven by a passion for creating meaningful and impactful spaces,” says Sunnerö. “Rather than being confined to a specific style or form, we see architecture as an opportunity to foster connections and make a difference.”

The portfolio encompasses a wide range of projects including corporate, civic, and private sectors. From hotels to residential buildings, offices to commercial spaces, educational facilities to mixed-use developments, and public structures.

Sunnerö Architects: Design to make a difference

Anna Sunnerö, founder

Winning proposal becomes reality

Sunnerö Architects has participated in and won numerous competitions that emphasize design and sustainability. One of its winning proposals, a residential building with 118 apartments, is now under construction and is due to be inaugurated in 2025.

The residential block of 11,000 square metres is located in Kävlinge, north of Malmö in Sweden, and is tailored to suit different types of people, needs and functions. “It will be a new landmark, marking the identity of the new development at the entrance to the city,” says the founder.

In 2022, the team won two competitions with stringent sustainability requirements, and these projects are also being developed further. Both projects feature hybrid structures of wood and concrete, with facades made from wood and recycled materials. And in 2023, Sunnerö Architects won yet another competition, with a proposal that shows how it is possible to plan for tomorrow’s communities on nature’s terms.

Transformation of old school from 1970 to a new.

Back to basic and starting small

The company’s approach is to work in small teams tailored to the specific needs of each project, crafting architecture that is conceptually robust, with spatial qualities and a strong sense of design, no matter the scale. “By starting with a small group, you can establish a solid foundation, identify and address potential issues early on, and create a cohesive team dynamic that can be scaled up effectively as the project grows,” means Sunnerö.

“We believe that great design emerges from embracing diverse practises and challenging conventional thinking,” she continues. “By involving experts from various disciplines and backgrounds, we bring fresh ideas and perspectives to each project, resulting in site-specific, inclusive and forward-thinking solutions.”

The founder emphasises that the team is not trying to reinvent the wheel. Instead, going back to basic encourages leveraging existing solutions to save time, reduce costs, and ensure reliability, thereby allowing more focus on innovation and improvement in areas that can bring new value.

Residential, office and hotel in Gothenburg.

Green building practices for the future

The construction industry is a major contributor to global CO2 emissions, presenting a significant challenge. Sunnerö Architects embraces the necessary paradigm shift and guides clients based on each project’s unique conditions and opportunities. The approach is holistic, with a focus on the well-being of both people and the planet.

Wood, a renewable material that is part of nature’s cycle, has the lowest emissions and climate footprint and the use of wood involves fewer transport and less waste compared to other materials. “We believe in using materials that age gracefully and ensure long-term sustainability. Also, our experience shows that wooden spaces enhance people’s well-being.”

The tight-knit team promotes strategies to make the most of existing buildings and assesses structures to find ways to repurpose and maximise benefits with minimal impact. Sunnerö adds; “The most climate-friendly building is one that doesn’t need to be built. At Sunnerö Architects, we work with transformations of buildings. Currently under construction is an insufficient school building where, thanks to our transformation, it will be experienced as if it was completely new.”