In the mid 1940s Hästens had outgrown its production site and began seeking a new home. David Janson, Hästens third generation leader had lofty ambitions for the new premises. It had to be more than just an assembly line hangar; there had to be a soul. A place that fired the senses.
Almost by accident Janson came into contact with the young Ralph Erskine, a relatively unknown British architect who was touring by bicycle through Sweden. Their collective thoughts on architecture meshed perfectly and Erskine was immediately commissioned for the task. The outcome was a building quite unlike conventional utility spaces at the time.
Initially referred to as ‘The Tivoli’, the building captured the imagination and, with its undulating arched roof, elegant lines and nautical references, has become an iconic landmark in architectural circles.
In 1998, Erskine returned to extend the building he drafted some 50 years prior. On arrival, he told Jan Ryde; “It feels exactly the same as when I talked to your grandfather 50 years ago. It has the same values and the same feeling.”
