Modular Student Apartments in Karlstad Combine Form and Function

Easy-to-Work Material Improves the Working Environment

As the name suggests, Moelven Byggmodul AB prefabricates its buildings as modulars – a construction method that is becoming increasingly popular and suits both small and large projects.

“We build all our projects in modules, everything from multi-family houses and schools to nursing homes and hospitals. Since the modules are prefabricated in a safe and dry factory environment, they are not affected by weather conditions. Moreover, the modules are assembled like Lego bricks, which means spending less time on the construction site. On-site, various installations are completed, and the facade cladding is mounted”, says Tobias Rydberg, project manager at Moelven Byggmodul AB.

For Site Manager Jonas Ljungberg at Moelven Byggmodul AB, the facade work on this project was special, largely due to the particular shape of the facade panels.

“The bottom edge of the panels is shaped like an arrowhead, and then we mounted them in a herringbone pattern. Everything was pre-cut and prefabricated from the factory, so the panel parts were already ready when they arrived on the construction site. However, we needed to cut and adapt the panels around the windows. But thanks to the flexibility of the panels, it worked well to combine our module concept with Rockpanel”, says Jonas Ljungberg and continues:

“Rockpanel was easy to work with and didn't weigh as much compared to some other facade cladding, which is nice. I hadn't worked with their products before, but now we have them in other projects, so we are satisfied”.

Structured Panels Bring Life to the Facade

The rental apartments are intended for students and have been built in various sizes, from one-room apartments of 31 square meters to three-room apartments of 78 square meters. Something all the apartments have in common is that they are designed to be space-efficient and include all the necessary functions – while also being comfortable.

“Since these are student residences, we wanted to create spaces that are usable, even in a small area. This means that we have focused a lot on maximizing the functionality of the apartments, without compromising on comfort. In this way, each apartment has everything needed, without feeling cramped or uncomfortable”, says Pernilla Knutsson, architect at Moelven Byggmodul AB, and continues:

“We also wanted to give the facades a feeling of being alive. The ambition was to find a facade panel with structure, with a more matt surface and a natural character. Additionally, we wanted it to match our other chosen materials, like the stain on the wood panelling we used. When we looked through Rockpanel's assortment, we saw several different options that fit both in terms of colour and structure. In the end, we chose three grey shades that harmonized with the stain, metal colours, and window colours. It turned out very nicely”.

She is complemented by Tobias Rydberg, who concludes:

“It's a project that we are proud of. We also have our factory here in Värmland, so it was fun to be on home turf and to now have a successful project nearby”.