Business Region Göteborg

Hoppet – Sweden’s first fossil-free preschool

When Hoppet preschool in Gothenburg was due to be built, the City of Gothenburg wanted to set a challenge for the construction industry and encourage change. The city wanted the preschool to be built completely fossil free, with no carbon emissions throughout the building’s entire life cycle from construction to its future use.

The Hoppet, or ‘hope’, preschool is intended as a role model in driving the transition to fossil-free building processes so that Gothenburg can achieve the goal of being an ecologically sustainable city by 2030. The aim is to develop products that enable, and establish a new standard for, fossil-free construction.

Calculating climate impact before construction

The Hoppet preschool was completed by the end of 2021, and welcomes a total of 144 children in eight groups. Measurements taken during the project show that the climate impact of the main building materials is reduced by 70% compared with an equivalent preschool built using traditional methods. This has been achieved through conscious material choices, demonstrating the benefits of calculating the climate impact when making decisions in the planning phase of construction projects.

New collaborations created

With assistance from the EU’s Northern Connection project, 27 suppliers and innovators from five northern European countries were invited to Living Lab Hoppet in Gothenburg to provide presentations and network around the common goal of fossil-free construction. Many of these solutions have already been used in the project and more may be applied, contributing to a switch towards fossil-free construction.

Smart choice of materials

To create a fossil-free preschool, the project has meticulously mapped the CO2 generated at all stages of construction. Low-carbon materials have been chosen without compromising on the requirements for an inviting preschool for children. Wood in the exterior walls was sourced from the municipality’s forestry operations. Several products in the building and the outdoor environment have been reused. The preschool’s administration is also trying to find reused interior furniture from the city’s existing stock.

Awards

The broad use of innovative environmental solutions for a sustainable future has generated interest in the project and led to two awards:
• Third place in World Architecture News’ WAN Awards 2020 in the category of educational future projects; and
• Third place in the Rethinking the Future Awards 2021 in the category of sustainable construction project of the year.
• Winner in the Swedish Design Awards by RUM

Picture: LINK Arkitekter


Similar Best Practices

Manufacture in Wood – Sustainable Wooden Design

Manufacture in Wood – Sustainable Wooden Design

‘Manufacture in wood’ is a gathering of forces from the wood construction industry and the wood-based interior design industry. The project will take advantage of the expertise available in production, automation and digital systems so that companies that work with wooden house construction, interior design and design can develop, with new solutions and smarter processes.

The Tricot factory – Timber on top to create a modern and sustainable office building

The Tricot factory – Timber on top to create a modern and sustainable office building

It is smart to use a circular business model where you can use existing buildings to create new buildings. Wood as a renewable building material plays a key role when existing buildings get new life with the help of wooden extensions.

The Multi Activity House – Sports, Activities, and Culture Under One Roof

The Multi Activity House – Sports, Activities, and Culture Under One Roof

A project is underway in the far north of Sweden to move and relocate the entire city of Gällivare. Public buildings are being replaced, creating a need for innovative, multi-purpose properties. The multi-activity building in the city centre will bring sport, activities and culture under one roof.

The New District of Brunnshög – a Future to Believe in

The New District of Brunnshög – a Future to Believe in

Everyone’s talking about a smarter, more sustainable future. This is taking shape in Brunnshög in southern Sweden. And it’s being created around the people who will live there, focusing on their future needs.

Villazero – Building for the Future

Villazero – Building for the Future

Villazero is a development project run by Fiskarhedenvillan, Mondo Arkitekter and Structor Byggteknik Dalarna, together with support from Region Dalarna. The project’s purpose is to build a carbon-neutral detached house in Borlänge. It’s a unique opportunity to learn how to build zero-CO2 houses for a more sustainable future.

Hoppet – Sweden’s first fossil-free preschool

Hoppet – Sweden’s first fossil-free preschool

When Hoppet preschool in Gothenburg was due to be built, the City of Gothenburg wanted to set a challenge for the construction industry and encourage change. The city wanted the preschool to be built completely fossil free, with no carbon emissions throughout the building’s entire life cycle from construction to its future use.

Tvärpilen – a Small Residential Area, Big on Sustainability

Tvärpilen – a Small Residential Area, Big on Sustainability

The village of Kivik in south-east Sweden is where you’ll find the new residential area Tvärpilen, which combines beauty, sustainability and responsibility in perfect harmony.

Site East –  a Climate-Neutral Construction Site

Site East – a Climate-Neutral Construction Site

At Skellefteå Site East, close to Northvolt’s factory, one of the world’s most sustainable development projects has been conducted. Maximising the cutting-edge know-how of both Skellefteå Municipality and external partners, Site East is a source of inspiration for the industry. It has the boldness to adopt new approaches to sustainability and work with contractors towards a common vision.

Wood Safari – Experience how Creative Wood Ideas Turns in to Sustainable Living Environments

Wood Safari – Experience how Creative Wood Ideas Turns in to Sustainable Living Environments

Advances in timber construction are attracting more and more attention from contractors and architects, who are discovering the benefits of using wood as a building material. In Skellefteå, you can experience a ‘wood safari’ to learn how creative ideas produce low-carbon, attractive living environments.

Blue Green City Lab Evaluates Sustainable Solutions

Blue Green City Lab Evaluates Sustainable Solutions

At times of more extreme weather caused by climate change, the downside of dense cities with few green spaces and more paved surfaces is evident; extreme heat, flooding and reduced biodiversity. Blue Green City Lab is a test bed that evaluates new and proven ‘blue-green’ solutions to mitigate these effects.

Social and Environmental Investment in Vårsången: a Good Deal for Everyone

Social and Environmental Investment in Vårsången: a Good Deal for Everyone

The renovation of the rundown area of Vårsången in Malmö has generated many positive effects. People previously moved to Vårsången because of a lack of other options. Today, they move there because it’s an attractive district where residents want to live. This has increased property values significantly, proving that social and environmental investment is a good deal in the long run.

Ohboy, the Bicycle House – Built for a Sustainable, Cost-Effective Lifestyle

Ohboy, the Bicycle House – Built for a Sustainable, Cost-Effective Lifestyle

Ohboy the Bicycle House in Malmö is designed, built and owned by architects Hauschild + Siegel. Owning the process from drawing board to finished product has allowed the architects control the entire concept and ensure it meets their vision of a smarter way to live.

My Visit Plan Favorite star