The European Spallation Source (ESS) will become the world’s leading neutron scattering research center. Our proposed design creates a landmark home for ESS that will be a significant addition to Lund and this growing center for advanced research. At the same time, our design is simple and elegant. It proposes a simple set of buildings organized internally to promote the highest degree of interaction and collaboration.

This simple set of forms can be constructed rapidly. These forms then blend into the landscape with a green roof. The sheer magnitude of the facility lends itself to be treated like a landscape element rather than a building. The long linear green roofs merge with the fields and meadows forming a man-made mound like a green splash in the agricultural landscape of Lund.

The laboratories, accommodation, and public facilities are arranged in a radial pattern gravitating towards the target station, and reaching out to form a campus-like condition towards the adjacent science village. The landscape forms pockets of different character between each finger of the building. The pockets become attractive outdoor spaces, courtyards and recreation areas. We propose a public trail leading over the peak of the target station and arriving at the lake towards northeast. The peak will become a destination for locals and visitors and provide panoramic views over the landscape of Skåne.