In a former underground physics laboratory at Frescati, the Accelerator art gallery has found its place as an arena where the public, students, and researchers can meet on campus. The goal is to foster innovation at all levels by raising research questions, inspiring new educational programs, and contributing to different perspectives on societal issues.

The name Accelerator is derived from the location. The brick buildings were constructed in 1936 as a laboratory and residence for Manne Siegbahn, Nobel Prize winner in Physics in 1924, and housed a particle accelerator in the basement. After the transformation, the basement now contains two large exhibition halls with associated workshops and storage spaces. Workspaces and classrooms are located above these rooms in what were previously technical spaces. A new entrance has been created in the space between the buildings, linking the project together. This area contains a generous lobby with a reception, restaurant, and tiered seating that also functions as a small auditorium. A 13-meter-high former transport shaft serves as a stairwell and a dramatic entrance to the underground exhibition rooms.

The simple, robust materials in the building—brick, concrete, steel, and metal—formed the basis of our material palette. The brick walls in the entrance hall have been patched, the rough and sometimes damaged concrete has been left as is or has retained the laboratory’s white color in the exhibition area. Ceilings and sound absorbers are made of perforated and corrugated metal. Above the stairs, an old hoist still hangs as a reminder of the past. To the south, the art gallery is announced by a large screen made of perforated rusty metal that connects the brick buildings externally.

The premises are custom-built for their purpose but still bear clear traces of their history. The original function of the rooms provided the specific conditions that made this art gallery and meeting place possible—something that would have been difficult to achieve in a new building—and now serves as a venue for the ambitious exhibitions and events that Accelerator continually presents.

Per Kraft and Ylva Fagraeus / 2BK architects