SQUARING THE CIRCLE is the mathematical problem of constructing a square with the same area as a given circle by using only a finite number of steps with compass and straightedge. Even though it was proven to be impossible in 1882, the problem has captivated many and has been used in literature with varied metaphorical meanings.
Berg’s new neighbourhood has many different atmospheres: waterfront living with a marina, an urban plateau with high-density city living and low-rise park living on the edge of the forest. These different atmospheres are created by building on the edge of the site, along the road that connects the port with Nacka. This strategy allows the heart of the site (former silos) to be transformed into a park and takes advantage of the topography to create a diverse and mixed plan.
The buildings of Berg all have square footprints of varying sizes and form a linear ensemble that starts at the port and ends 60 meters higher at the edge of the forest. The mixed grain makes it suitable to adjust to the topography, optimal for programmatic differentiation, adaptable to future changes and it gives the neighbourhood a coherency. Just like the original silos, the squares form a family of all sided volumes along the edge of nature.
