Stockholm-based architecture firm Ulf Mejergren Architects (UMA) has won a competition to design a permanent sculpture for a pre-school in Falun, the cradle of the Swedish typical red color that you see on cottages all over Sweden.

The red color derives from the Falun copper mine that operated from the 10th century to the early 1990s. The mine once produced as much as two thirds of Europe's copper needs and was also the second biggest city in Sweden during that time. 

Now the mine and the town are an UNESCO World Heritage site but the typical Falu red paint is still produced here with byproducts from the mine.

Ulf Mejergren Architects takes cues from the red ornamented houses that cover the mine shafts. Based on these houses, the studio created a playful and welcoming little house. 

The sculpture is made of five houses stacked on top of each other, gradually getting bigger, which makes them look like they could fit into each other like a matryoshka doll.

Using an old technique from the region that is used to carve out patterns in wood for ornamental purposes we perforated the house with stars in various sizes, which means that the house, that has a lighting system on the inside, becomes a large welcoming lantern when it is dark.

During the day the light from the sun creates star patterns inside Stjärnhus (which means Star House in English) and also on the ground that moves as the day progresses.

UMA previously designed Trunk Tower, an observation tower that is carved out from one dead tree. The office is known for its swimming pool created at the roof of Notre-Dame as "a new meditative public space".

Project facts

Architect/artist: Ulf Mejergren
Carpenters: Hagängs Snickeri - Mikael Hagström and Stefan Ljusteräng
Engineer: Byggteknik Nord - Emanuel Chryssanthou
Electrician: Elektrikern i Dalarna AB
Light consultant: Hide-a-lite - Urban Hussmo
Landscape/Foundation: Byggtjänst i Falun - Martin Fyhr
Art consultant for Falun Municipality: Emma Billbäck
Project manager for Falun Municipality: Emma Skräddargård

All images and illustrations by Ulf Mejergren Architects (UMA).

> via UMA 

pavilion sculpture Ulf Mejergren Architects