The Nobel Foundation and David Chipperfield Architects have revealed the updated design for the Nobel Center, a new cultural and public institution on the waterfront at Slussen in central Stockholm. The announcement, made in January 2026, marks a key step in bringing this long-anticipated building to life as a permanent home for the legacy of the Nobel Prize.
The proposed Nobel Center will be located along Stadsgårdskajen, where Lake Mälaren meets the Baltic Sea. The site connects Södermalm with Stockholm’s historic Old Town and is part of the city’s emerging museum walk along the waterfront.
Nobel Center Architecture and Design
David Chipperfield Architects’ updated design responds to both its urban edge and historic context. The building is composed of interconnected volumes that step with the slope of Södermalm and relate in scale to the neighboring 17th-century buildings across the water in Gamla stan. A terrace facing the passage enhances the connection between public space and the center’s entrance, while large windows frame views of the city and archipelago.
The structure will be built primarily with a timber frame, chosen to reduce embodied carbon. Reclaimed red brick will wrap the exterior, referencing the long tradition of brick architecture in Stockholm, including nearby civic landmarks such as City Hall. These materials are intended to give the center a grounded presence that reflects both durability and civic purpose.
Inside, daylight is a principal element shaping visitor movement through exhibition spaces, lecture halls, workshops, and public areas. The design places emphasis on openness and accessibility, with entrances on both the north and south sides and a foyer that includes a shop and restaurant.
Public Spaces and Interior Programme
The Nobel Center is envisioned as an open institution dedicated to science, literature, and peace, the core fields honored by the Nobel Prize. It will host exhibitions about Nobel laureates and their achievements and spaces for lectures, workshops, cultural gatherings, and interdisciplinary dialogues. The ground floor will extend into the public domain, encouraging everyday interaction from residents and visitors alike.
According to the Nobel Foundation, the building will become an international landmark of knowledge, welcoming visitors by foot, bike, public transport, or boat, and offering year-round activities. It is intended to serve as a meeting place for students, researchers, Nobel laureates, and the general public.
The project is funded through major donations from Swedish foundations, and construction is planned to begin in the late 2020s with an opening targeted in the early 2030s. The Nobel Prize Museum will relocate to the new building, which will also include spaces for permanent exhibitions and large events linked to Nobel-related activities.
Credit: Onirism
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