Studio Stockholm Arkitektur was commissioned by the City of Stockholm to review the Hötorget market and its stalls from an architectural perspective. The issue was raised when several of the market’s neighbours filed complaints that the square looked chaotic and messy while the market stalls were perceived as haphazard and unsafe.
“We had previously worked with markets on behalf of the Department of Property Management and appreciate that there is a long history around markets to take into consideration, and that the vendors are inventive and tend to solve the various problems that pop up with the carts by using duct tape and rope. At the same time, the site needs to be presentable and safe for the vendors, citizens, customers and tourists,” says Alessandro Cardinale, Architect and Partner at Studio Stockholm Arkitektur.
The challenges span from the working environment to appearance versus flexibility, as well as safety. The roof of a cart is generally a major challenge due to the large area it is expected to cover and the need for the carts to be easy to pack up and stand firm regardless of the weather.
It was important to really find out what the different commercial interests were for all parties involved and to challenge the definition of a cart and roof, rather then “just develop a cart.”
The prototypes have been well received by everyone involved. The next phase of the project is of a political nature – the product is developed and now it’s time to find a way to get the project off the ground. One challenge with the carts themselves has been the weight of the roof, but through the inflatable solution, the weight of the cart is reduced.