Hus 26 Slakthusområdet is a new food and beverage destination in an historical slaughterhouse building in Stockholm, Sweden.

The strategy of the project was to allow the historical building details to take centre stage, and to work with a palette of materials that would complement the original concrete and brick structure. Working closely with the conservation experts, we designed new exterior windows and doors that would replace recently added low quality aluminium windows, and devised a strategy for how we could retain the roughness of the original structure by not unnecessary cleaning or reparing surfaces and structural details. Where the original sandstone bricks needed repair, we could use original bricks from previous demolitions in the building complex, which allowed us to retain the original materiality, and reduce the environmental impact of the repairs. 

The project is a clear example of a successful adaptive re-use strategy, where the old building has been carefully restored and upgraded to fit the new programme. Hus 26 is the first building out of many historical buildings in the area to be renovated, and will lead the way forward in terms of its aesthetic treatments and sustainable approach.