How do you build a new district without it feeling "new"? In the urban quarters of Haga Norra in Solna, the ambition has been clear: to create a city environment defined by classic qualities and an inner-city block structure. Through meticulous attention to detail, variation in design language, and hand-laid brick façades, quarters are created that feel as if they have evolved over time – rather than being recently completed.

With a blend of housing, offices, restaurants, and squares, Fabege, its subsidiary Birger Bostad, and the architects at BAU have created an environment that feels homely from day one. Here, every building is unique, with its own character contributing to a vibrant whole.

Homes Built on 100 Years of Tradition

Mårten Wessel is one of the architects at BAU who helped design the urban blocks of Haga Norra – featuring varied, broken-up façades and a rich materiality. According to Mårten, a major reason for the buildings' unique character is the hand-laid brickwork.

"Hand-laid brick is a fantastic material to work with. Besides being beautifully tactile and durable, it allows us to borrow design languages from different eras. The variation hasn't just been created by choosing different types of bricks with shifting characters; we have also been able to draw on over 100 years of building tradition to evoke a sense that these newly built quarters have grown over time."

The idea of variation follows all the way into the homes. Unique duplex apartments sit alongside charming smaller studios. Instead of optimising every flat strictly according to standard requirements, the architects have deliberately allowed small "quirks" to remain. This might be a niche or a bit of extra space somewhere, whose use isn't predetermined but which gives the home its character.

Office Buildings with 355,000 Reclaimed Bricks

The same care for materials, variation, and urban life is found in the district's office architecture. Haga Norra is home to Kvarter 1 (Block 1) – an office building of approximately 27,000 square metres that has become a clear example of how sustainability and design can work in harmony.

The façade consists of 355,000 reclaimed bricks, each carrying its own history. Parts of the brickwork were manufactured as early as 1973 at the Vedstaarup brickworks and previously adorned buildings in Denmark. By reusing the material, Fabege has not only reduced the climate impact but also added a sense that the building has always been there – and always will be.

"The reclaimed brick has become a successful example of reuse, both in terms of design and sustainability. Through careful handling and solid craftsmanship together with BAU, Zengun, Bruksspecialisten, and Kovenda, we have managed to preserve the brick's natural patina and shifting hues, which would be difficult to recreate with new materials," says John McMillen, Project Manager at Fabege.

The building serves as a protective "spine" against the Frösundaleden road, helping to create a calmer, sheltered interior around Mathildatorget. This allows the square to become the living heart of the area – a meeting point where residents and professionals in the district can meet, socialise, eat, and spend time.

Today, Kvarter 1 houses companies such as JM, Randstad, SATS, Coor, and Atea, while the ground floor features lunch restaurants, a local bistro, and a café. The building has received several awards for its low energy consumption and reduced carbon footprint.

A District that Feels Natural From the Start

Haga Norra demonstrates how architecture and urban planning can interact to create a vibrant, mixed, and sustainable city environment where people thrive. Here, historically inspired expressions meet future needs in an environment full of character.

Read more about Haga Norra