First Place Winner
Depth of Field
Design by
Alexander Söderholm, Sara Holmgren, Julie Wójcik
Juror’s Comment:
An exceptional and highly resolved proposal that masterfully integrates infrastructure, city, and culture. The concept of extending Fotografiska underground to connect metro, waterfront, and urban fabric is both visionary and pragmatic. The spatial sequence—from metro descent to the “lens” and cylindrical exhibition space —creates a powerful and memorable architectural journey, while the integration of cinema, workshops, and public programs establishes a vibrant cultural hub.
Work on:
The project is highly refined, but the strong formal language—particularly the cylindrical geometries—could benefit from greater material and atmospheric variation to avoid spatial monotony across different program zones.
Alexander Söderholm, Sara Holmgren, Julie Wójcik
Julie:
Currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Architecture at Lund University Faculty of Engineering (LTH) after graduating from Warsaw University of Technology. Particularly driven by creating atmospheric architectural visualizations and solving complex technical challenges to transform concepts into functional, well-crafted spaces.
Sara:
Sara is pursuing a Masters in Architecture at Lund University Faculty of Engineering (LTH) after graduating from Umeå School of Architecture with a bachelors in June 2025. She also studied a year at Illinois Institute of Technology. Sara is especially interested in the renovation and revival of historical architecture and using architecture as a tool to impact people’s everyday lives.
Alexander:
Alexander is pursuing a Master of Architecture at Lund University, Faculty of Engineering (LTH), after completing his Bachelor’s degree at Umeå School of Architecture in June 2025. He also spent a semester on exchange at the Bartlett School of Architecture. His work is driven by a deep interest in the narrative behind every detail and how each element contributes to the story users step into when they experience a space.
Celebrating Creativity & Vision
Winner’s Spotlight: An Exclusive Interview
Discover the story behind the victory — from concept to creation.
Concept & Interpretation
What was the central idea behind your proposal, and how did you interpret the theme “Subterranean Visions” within your architectural vision for an underground museum?
Our main concept was centered on integrating the museum within both the existing and future urban fabric of Stockholm. We aimed to create a space that feels deeply connected to its surroundings and recognizable to visitors, while drawing inspiration from the site’s most distinctive contextual elements, particularly the relationship with Fotografiska and the dramatic nearly 100-meter-deep skylight associated with the depth of Sofia Station.
At the same time, the project sought to address key urban challenges present on the site, including the lack of a direct connection to Fotografiska caused by the embankment, as well as the unfriendly pedestrian conditions created by the adjacent highway infrastructure. By rethinking circulation and spatial continuity, we aimed to transform the area into a more accessible, engaging, and cohesive public environment. Although translating these contextual ambitions into architecture proved more complex than initially anticipated, it ultimately became one of the project’s defining strengths.
In our interpretation of the theme, we wanted to create spaces that challenge and distort the perception of reality through the deliberate use of light, scale, and spatial variation. Rather than evoking the atmosphere of a confined underground cavern, the design seeks to establish an environment that feels open, immersive, and emotionally resonant. The intention was to create a spatial experience that not only offers moments of calm and reflection, but also inspires a sense of wonder and awe.
Reimagining Underground Spaces
Subterranean environments are often perceived as enclosed or restrictive. How did your design transform the underground setting into an engaging, open, and immersive cultural experience for visitors?
Our design reimagined the underground environment as an open and immersive cultural experience rather than a confined space. By integrating the museum within Stockholm’s urban fabric and creating a new passage connecting directly to Fotografiska, we transformed circulation into part of the visitor experience while improving accessibility and pedestrian flow. Rather than existing as an isolated underground destination, the museum became part of a larger urban system, connected physically, visually, and experientially to the city around it.
Spatial Experience & Atmosphere
Can you describe how your project approached the emotional and sensory experience of moving through the museum? How did elements such as light, materiality, circulation, and spatial sequencing shape the visitor journey?
The project was designed to create an unexpected and emotionally engaging underground experience. The first impression is defined by the overwhelming scale of the space, creating a strong contrast between the noisy, defined, fast-paced atmosphere of the metro and the dark, open and quiet environment of the museum. The second impression is shaped by the lift journey, which takes visitors down into a long tunnel lined with exhibited photographs. The final experience is the bridge that reconnects visitors back to the above-ground city.
Different spatial qualities throughout the project provide varied experiences depending on the function and position within the museum. Varied lighting conditions enhance the underground atmosphere through scale, contrast, transition, and changing moods, transforming the perception of subterranean space into something memorable.
Architecture & Nature Integration
The competition emphasized the relationship between architecture and nature. How did your proposal integrate natural systems, landscape, or environmental elements into the subterranean environment?
We wanted to create a strong contrast between the raw natural granite and the newly introduced man-made materials, particularly the concrete cylinders, in order to clearly distinguish between the existing geological conditions and the architectural intervention.
At the same time, the dark character of the granite allowed us to work extensively with light as a fundamental architectural element, shaping atmosphere, perception, and spatial experience. We wanted to celebrate the feeling of being immersed within a monumental granite cavern and transform it into a unique and memorable architectural experience.
Sustainability & Environmental Response
What sustainable strategies were incorporated into your design? How did your project address issues such as energy efficiency, resource optimization, environmental impact, or urban resilience?
Sustainability was addressed through both environmental and social strategies. Naturally, the underground placement of the museum benefits from stable temperatures, reducing energy demands for heating and cooling. We also considered the potential reuse of heat energy produced by the metro infrastructure as a sustainable energy source.
On an urban level, the museum was designed to be accessible to everyone, regardless of age or background, and fully integrated with public transport. Guided by the principles of universal design, we wanted to create a space without boundaries — an inviting cultural destination that supports sustainable mobility and inclusivity.
Community & Cultural Engagement
Beyond being an exhibition space, the museum was envisioned as a hub for education, interaction, and cultural exchange. How does your proposal encourage public engagement and foster connections between visitors, artists, and the community?
The project was designed as a welcoming cultural destination that extends beyond the traditional role of an exhibition space. Through its direct connection to the metro and Fotografiska, the museum becomes part of the everyday urban flow, making it easy and inviting for everyone to access.
The project includes workshops for photographic techniques, a theater, a cafeteria, and flexible public spaces that encourage interaction, learning, and cultural exchange. While some spaces create a dramatic atmosphere, the overall experience was designed to feel welcoming and down to earth, avoiding exclusivity and ensuring that all visitors feel comfortable and included.
Innovation & Feasibility
Do you see your proposal as a practical architectural solution for future cities, an experimental concept, or a speculative vision? What opportunities and challenges might arise in realizing such subterranean cultural spaces in real urban contexts?
We see the proposal as an experiment in creating cave-like cultural spaces underground. A photo museum, which depends on controlled lighting, doesn’t gain much from being above ground, so placing it below felt natural. In an urban setting, such a museum could offer a distinct and memorable public experience.
At the same time, realizing a project like this would involve major challenges, including financing, advanced engineering solutions, and integrating the proposal with existing infrastructure. Despite this, we believe it highlights the future potential of underground cultural architecture in dense cities.
Future of Museum Architecture
How do you believe underground architecture can influence the future of museums and cultural institutions? What role can subterranean spaces play in shaping more sustainable and resilient urban environments?
Underground architecture has the capacity to reshape the future of museums and cultural institutions, particularly in cities where dense urban development leaves little room for new cultural interventions and public spaces. We believe that subterranean architecture offers an alternative approach, enabling cities to expand and evolve while preserving valuable surface-level areas for public life and greenery.
From a sustainability perspective, underground spaces can contribute to the creation of more resilient urban environments by reducing the visual footprint within the city, utilizing the earth’s natural thermal insulation to enhance energy efficiency, and preserving valuable public and green spaces at ground level. As cities continue to face increasing spatial and environmental pressures, this approach could become both a contemporary and future-oriented solution for the development of architecture and urban design.
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