Dezeen Magazine

Lilla Raby Lund by Anahita Nahoomi Lina Davidsson Miranda Westfelt and Robert Janson

Lilla Råby by Anahita Nahoomi, Lina Davidsson, Miranda Westfelt and Robert Janson

A spiky kindergarten and a bulbous sports centre with rooftop funnels are included in this conceptual community by architecture students at Lund University, Sweden.

Lilla Råby Lund by Anahita Nahoomi Lina Davidsson Miranda Westfelt and Robert Janson

Anahita Nahoomi, Lina Davidsson, Miranda Westfelt and Robert Janson collaborated on the project, which proposes both new and converted buildings for a site outside Lund city centre.

Lilla Råby Lund by Anahita Nahoomi Lina Davidsson Miranda Westfelt and Robert Janson

An undulating grass landscape would slope up from the ground as the roof of the sports centre, which would house a gym and sunken swimming pool in the southwest corner of the site.

Lilla Råby Lund by Anahita Nahoomi Lina Davidsson Miranda Westfelt and Robert Janson

An old school building would be converted into a market hall, study rooms and a café, with student housing blocks on the roof.

Lilla Råby Lund by Anahita Nahoomi Lina Davidsson Miranda Westfelt and Robert Janson

The new kindergarten would be situated just beyond, alongside a row of studios and workshops for artists.

Lilla Råby Lund by Anahita Nahoomi Lina Davidsson Miranda Westfelt and Robert Janson

Housing clusters are proposed for the southeast corner of the site, each with shops and small businesses occupying their ground floors.

Some other memorable conceptual projects by students include headquarters for an illegal migration company and an upside-down skyscraper.

Here's some text about the project from Robert Janson:


Lilla Råby is a small quarter in Lund, Sweden. The area is located close to the center of the town.

Lilla Råby Lund by Anahita Nahoomi Lina Davidsson Miranda Westfelt and Robert Janson

The place is experienced empty, it doesnʼt encourage to activity and is currently full of barriers, both physically and mentally. It is characterized by a pedestrian and a lane which divides the area into two different parts.

Lilla Råby Lund by Anahita Nahoomi Lina Davidsson Miranda Westfelt and Robert Janson

These parts today contain a sport center, a kindergarten, a high school and some historic buildings that are worth preserving.Our task was to create more activity and life in the area while preserving and improving the functions that exists today.We also wanted to create a new link between the south part and the center of Lund. The idea was to create a smooth transition in scale between the high buildings to the west and the smaller scale buildings in the surrounding neighborhoods. In our proposal, we have chosen to work with buildings that encourage activity both inside and outside.

Lilla Råby Lund by Anahita Nahoomi Lina Davidsson Miranda Westfelt and Robert Janson

The sport hallʼs roof creates a landscape that could be used for different purposes during different seasons. While it creates a green space in the summer, it can be turned into a sledding hill in the winter. It also creates a natural link with the small scale residential neighborhood adjacent to Arkivgatan.

Lilla Råby Lund by Anahita Nahoomi Lina Davidsson Miranda Westfelt and Robert Janson

This residential area has a dense village structure with green roofs and narrow paths that opens up to a common garden where one can grow vegetable as well as it forms a meeting place for the residents. The houses that lies along the Hardeberga path has room for minor activities and businesses on the ground floor while the second and third floor is residential.

Lilla Råby by Anahita Nahoomi, Lina Davidsson, Miranda Westfelt and Robert Janson

Site with existing buildings

The school buildings in the west corner is preserved but the function has been replaced by a market hall, study areas and a cafe. On top of the building, we have chosen to build small student housing and rooftop parks in order to increase the activity in the area.

Lilla Råby by Anahita Nahoomi, Lina Davidsson, Miranda Westfelt and Robert Janson

Clearing the site

On the north east side of the quarter lies Lilla Raby kindergarten. It has preserved its location, character and the amount of green space while the new building encourages playfulness and climbing both indoors and outdoors.

Lilla Råby by Anahita Nahoomi, Lina Davidsson, Miranda Westfelt and Robert Janson

New movement patterns

Between the kindergarten and the market is a path lined by partly old and new buildings of small scale character. These houses can be used as studios, workshops or "pop-up" galleries. Lilla Råby is not just a new center outside Lund, its an active community with a rich cultural life, social encouragement and close contact with agriculture and nature.

Lilla Råby by Anahita Nahoomi, Lina Davidsson, Miranda Westfelt and Robert Janson

New buildings