I maj 2026 träffades bagarna i Valkärratorn för att baka tillsammans. Foto: Peter Westrup

The Råängen bread

In the Iron Age, people already grew and milled grain at Brunnshög, the part of Lund where the Råängen district is now taking shape. One theory holds that the area housed a brewery or a bakery even then. We are now deepening our work on the role of food in urban development, beginning a collaboration around heritage grains and local value chains. In the initiative Råängenbrödet (The Råängen bread), five bakeries from Lund, Malmö and Ystad are baking bread in new ways. They are joined by Caroline Lindö, a medical researcher specialising in baking with heritage grains, the Michelin chef Anton Bjuhr and the farmer Håkan Rasmusson.
Read more here

Photo: Åsa Sonjasdotter

Underground

‘Under jorden’ (Underground) – a song cycle about potatoes. May 4, 18:30 in Hage. There is still an opportunity to register for the concert. Read more and sign up here. Welcome to an evening of tasting and listening to potatoes!

Street and block names

Blocks, streets, and alleys in Råängen have now been given names! Representatives from Råängen’s steering group were involved in developing the proposals. The Building Committee made its decision on March 19.

Carl Henning Cristner, Åsa Bjerndell, Ebba Sjögren, Lena Sjöstrand and Klas A. M. Eriksson. The seminar was held in the Jacob Dahlgren Room, featuring installations based on measuring tools and graphic forms drawn from charts, bars, and circles. Photo: Erik Wikberg

Money

In March 2026, Råängen and the Stockholm School of Economics invited participants to a seminar on one of the main themes of the Råängen program: Money. The half-day programme focused on hope, obstacles, and the possibility of thinking and acting differently in order to hold together both qualitative and economic values when shaping a new urban district.

Freshly baked bread made from various heritage grains.

The Råängen Bread – a collaboration with the region’s bakeries begins

On 19 March, five bakeries from Lund and Malmö gathered to discuss heritage grains, baking, and what a bread that carries Råängen’s history might be.

Mats Persson and Andreea Ioana Kaiser.

New residential development takes shape at the edge of the park in Råängen

Råängen continues to take shape. The fourth plot within the project’s first zoning plan has now been sold to ALFA Development, who together with Architects Lundvall Payne and J+S Projektutveckling are planning a new residential development.

Lisa Hurtado-Axiö, Lena Sjöstrand, Josef Eder, Mats Persson and Johan Axiö.

Third land sale in Råängen – architects also take on the role of developer

The development of Råängen continues to move forward. The third plot within the project’s first zoning plan has now been sold to General Architecture, who, together with the Axiö Group, will develop a residential block of privately owned apartments.

Mats Persson, Rickard Wollberg and David Hogell Sallhag. Photo: Peter Westrup

Second land sale in Råängen – a new housing block begins to take shape

The development of Råängen takes another step forward. The second plot within the project’s initial zoning plan has now been sold to the residential developer Sundprojekt, who together with Esencial (architect) and NBI Bygg (contractor) is planning a housing block of approximately 5,000 square metres of gross floor area. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2027, with first occupancy in 2029.

Illustration: James Graham

From a Garden to a City – on spiritual sustainability in urban development (event in Swedish)

Thursday, 22 January 2026, 17:00–20:00, Stadsparkscaféet, Stadsparksgatan 1 in Lund

The publication is available for purchase at the bookstore Arken in Lund. If you don’t live in Lund but would like a copy, please send an email to info@raangen.se.

From a Garden to a City – a publication (in Swedish)

A new publication by Lena Sjöstrand explores the theological ideas that inspire the work with Råängen. From the very beginning, theology has shaped the project’s tone and direction. New perspectives develop and take form in dialogue with each step of Råängen’s process. Theology is in motion. Biblical narratives, ritual and liturgy meet urban development, giving rise to challenge, friction and affirmation. The publication includes reflections on themes such as In-between Spaces, Failure, the Meal, the Trees and the Seventh Day. Closely linked to Råängen’s vision, the text is intended to support future choices and decisions within the project.

Photo: Peter Westrup

The First Meal

At the threshold between summer and autumn, Råängen hosted its first meal – a new annual tradition that will evolve alongside the neighbourhood itself. It is a site-specific, sensory experience, and a way of working through the questions that shape the project right now

Mats Persson, Johan Histrup and Pia Althin. Photo: Peter Westrup

First land sale in Råängen – a new neighbourhood begins to take shape

A significant milestone has been reached in the development of Råängen: the first plot of land has now been sold. Residential developer Kudu, in collaboration with architect Petra Gipp, will now bring to life one of the area’s first housing projects. This step marks the next phase in our long‑term effort to form a neighbourhood where agricultural landscape and city life meet.

Study model: White Arkitekter

Zoning plan for phase one gains legal force

The zoning plan for the first phase of Råängen has now gained legal force – marking a significant step toward realising the vision for Råängen: a new neighbourhood on the northeastern edge of Lund, where architecture, landscape and everyday life converge in dialogue with both history and the future.

Image: Sveriges Radio

Building for the next century

Lena & Åsa participated in Sveriges Radio's program series ‘2.5 degrees’. The series explores what it will be like to live in a climate-changed Sweden in the year 2100 and aims, based on what we know today, to picture a future climate-altered world. The episode is called ‘Building for the next century – planning the cities of the future’. Råängen serves as an example of some of the questions and priorities that become important when taking a thousand-year perspective on planning a new urban neighbourhood. The program is available here.

Image: White Arkitekter

First homes at Råängen

Our first building projects are now underway. Five architects have been commissioned to develop residential buildings at Råängen.

They join Flores & Prats who have been developing Tower and Corner House, two buildings that will establish a relationship with our garden Hage, and a public square. Johan Celsing Arkitekt, Esencial, General Architecture, Gipp Arkitektur, and Lundvall Payne are working together to establish potential approaches that will define the relationship between buildings, scale, materiality and programme.

Tor Lindstrand, Mia Engberg, Lena Sjöstrand, Jes Fernie.

Online talk now on YouTube

Our online talk ‘What are we afraid of? – Longing, anxiety and hope in the age of AI’, involving an AI specialist, a priest and a film maker, raised a multitude of fascinating, terrifying, liberating topics.

Using Tor Lindstrand’s images of a possible future Råängen we spoke about opportunities to consider a future we don’t know; the importance of visualising spaces that involve dirt, disfunction and diversity as well as dynamics that are part of life; we considered the risks involved in thinking that we can handle and control reality; and we made a plea for more gaps, darkness and open space for reflection, resonance and creativity. Watch it here

AI image: Tor Lindstrand

What are we afraid of?

Longing, anxiety and hope in the age of AI
Webinar 19 september, 12–13.15 CET

Speakers:
Tor Lindstrand, architect, lecturer and AI specialist
Lena Sjöstrand, Chaplain, Lund Cathedral
Mia Engberg, film director and screenwriter
Chair: Jes Fernie, curator, Råängen

Photo: Peter Westrup

Mies van der Rohe Award

The European Commission and the Fundació van der Rohe have announced the finalists for the 2024 European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture – Mies van der Rohe Award. We are extremely proud that Hage, the walled garden at Råängen, is one of five finalists. Congratulations to Geir and Olav at Brendeland Kristoffersen and to Tim Lucas and Ian Sheppard at Price & Myers.

Hage won the 2023 Skåne Architecture Prize and the 2021 Lund Urban Design Award. It was also a finalist of the 2023 Kasper Salin Prize, and the 2022 European Prize for Urban Public Space.

Photo: Peter Westrup

Byggstudio text

We’ve written a text about Byggstudio’s wonderful programme of activities for Hage – available to read here. It’s about the importance of providing strange, unfinished and unruly places for children to play in, to allow for risk, imagination and freedom.

Photo: Daniel Engvall

Cathedral Thinking

The exhibition ‘Cathedral Thinking’ is currently on display at Form/Design Center in Malmö. The exhibition poses the question: how can the church’s resources, including buildings and land, become a catalyst for conversations around continuity and transformation?

Råängen is presented as an example of the ways that church land can be transformed to house a new community, whilst Johannes Brattgård investigates how church buildings can provide new types of public space.

Photo: Peter Westrup

The Kasper Sahlin Prize

Hage, our public garden, has been shortlisted for the Kasper Salin Prize, the Architects Sweden Award for best building of the year. We are honoured to be part of the shortlist which also includes an office building – Merkurhuset in Göteborg; a renovated church – Mötesplats Mariatorget, Stockholm; and twelve townhouses in Malmö.

The winner of this year’s award will be announced at the Architecture Awards Ceremony on 13 March 2023, at the Liseberg Theatre in Göteborg. More information about the nominated projects is available here.

Photo: Ricardo Flores

Ways of Living workshops

In January 2023, Eva Prats and Ricardo Flores, architects of the Tower and Corner Houses at Råängen, held a series of workshops with students at the LTH Architecture school in Lund. Over one intensive week, the students investigated six neighbourhoods in Lund to understand how the relationships between home and neighbourhood differ. The results of the project will help inform the development of the first buildings at Råängen.

Photo: Peter Westrup

Sun, water, power
– play day at Hage

We invite children and adults of all ages to come along and experiment with water fountains and solar panels at Hage, our public garden in Råängen. On September 25th, 14–17, Hanna Nilsson and Sofia Østerhus from Byggstudio will be on hand to make water mirrors and clay gutters with you, and you’re free to play with sprinklers, and water pumps. Solar-powered fountains and clay channels, designed by local school children, will be on display, ready for you to test and adapt.

Photo: Nadja Sahbegovic

Hage shortlisted for European prize

Hage has been shortlisted for the 2022 European Prize for Urban Public Space. Hage is one of five finalists for this award, which aims to highlight projects that create, recover, and improve public spaces in European cities. The award is run by the Centre for Culture in Barcelona. The winner will be announced in November 2022.

Photo: Peter Westrup

Dig! Splash! Dig!

This is an invitation to get really dirty and a little bit feral. Together, we’ll be digging, playing, jumping and making in Hage, the new walled garden at Råängen. We’ll have activities for all age groups – come and join us on the 7th May 14–17!

The event is free and suitable for all play enthusiasts 0–100 years. Wear old clothes and wellies and prepare to get muddy. We will go ahead if it rains! A toilet will be available, and refreshments will be provided. See you in Hage!

Egon Møller-Nielsen, ‘Tufsen’, 1949. ©ArkDes collection. Photo: Sune Sundahl

Partnership with Lunds konsthall and Wanås Konst

To kick-start the PLAY & RESEARCH programme we have joined up with Lunds konsthall and Wanås Konst on a series of events that link to the current exhibition at Lunds konsthall, ‘The Playground Project’:

Interactive Sculptures in Lund, 2 April, 1–2.30pm
Sculpture & Play, 9 April, 2–3.30pm
Art & Play, 28 April, 5–8pm
Dig, Splash, Dig! 7 May, 2–5pm

‘A, B, se Hässelby’, 2014–2015. Interactive wall puzzle in a day-care centre, Stockholm. Photo: Gustav Karlsson Frost

Byggstudio

We are delighted to be working with Byggstudio on a programme of events and activities that will take place in Hage throughout 2022. The theme for the programme is PLAY & RESEARCH and will involve local community groups and residents. Together, we’ll be testing ideas and developing networks for long-term partnerships in Råängen.

Kieran Long, Nathan Coley, Ricardo Flores, Eva Prats, Geir Brendeland.

Råängen talk

If you missed our online talk with the artists and architects involved in our commissioning programme, chaired by Kieran Long of ArkDes, you can watch it here.

Hage architecture prize and booklet

We are very happy that Hage has been awarded the Lund Architecture Prize 2021. We’ve made a booklet about the project which includes an essay by UK-based writer Gillian Darley. Read it here.

Photo: Henrik Rosenqvist (Geir Brendeland), Elisabeth Toll (Kieran Long)

Working with Nothing

Online talk: ‘Working with Nothing – Artists and Architects Building a New Neighbourhood’
January 18th, 2022, 12.00–13.15 CET, via Zoom

Speakers:
Eva Prats and Ricardo Flores, Flores & Prats Architects
Nathan Coley, artist
Geir Brendeland, Brendeland & Kristoffersen Arkitekter
Chair: Kieran Long, Director, ArkDes

Geir Brendeland. Film: HolsterGreen/LangFilm

Lund Architecture Film Festival

We have made a short film of the building of Hage which will be screened at the Lund Architecture Film Festival (15 to 17 October). The film will be shown on the 16th when Lena Sjöstrand and Linda Holster will also take part in a panel discussion. Check the website for details. The programme is available online this year.

Hage launch, 11 September 2021. Photo: Peter Westrup

Hage is open!

Many thanks to everyone who joined us to celebrate the completion of Hage. We had a wonderful afternoon with drinks, speeches, dances, songs, dogs and babies. Performances by local choir, Klockorna, under the direction of Makiko Nakamura-Ottosson, and the contemporary dance group Miscellaneous AB, led by choreographer Maria Naidu, took place throughout the party.

Illustration: James Graham

The Råängen experiment

Researchers at Lund University and Utrecht University have been following the Råängen programme over the last couple of years. We are delighted that their paper ‘Planning for 1000 Years: The Råängen Experiment’ has been published in the latest issue of ‘Urban Planning’.

Eva Prats and Ricardo Flores.

Flores & Prats

We are delighted to announce that architects Flores & Prats have been commissioned to design the first building for Råängen. The residential building will sit close to Hage, the walled garden designed by Brendeland & Kristoffersen, which is currently under construction.

Photo: Peter Westrup

Hage at Domkyrkoforum

Photographer Peter Westrup has been documenting Hage during construction and a selection of his photographs are now on display at Domkyrkoforum in Lund. The exhibition is open until 7 December 2020. Please follow advice on social distancing.

Drone footage showing Råängen site, Hage foundations and tram track, May 2020.

Råängen development programme

The project has moved into a new phase as the formal planning process has now begun. We are working together with the Lund city planning department to develop the Outline Plan which will define the structure of the area, including principles for public space, streets, schools and mix of development. The intention is for the first homes to be built around Hage, beginning the slow shift from field to neighbourhood. We will share material from this process as it develops.

Photo by Geir Brendeland, brick wall in Lund – inspiration for Hage.

Digital talks due to Covid

We’ve had to move the launch of our public garden, Hage, from September 2020 to spring 2021, because of the impact of Covid. However, we are continuing our public programme in virtual channels. Members of the Råängen and Hage team have taken part in various talks with the Architecture Foundation and Art & Christianity in the UK in recent weeks.

Photo: Henrik Rosenqvist

Hage talk with Geir Brendeland

We got a lot of really interesting, useful feedback at our Hage event last month, held at the Skissernas Museum. Many thanks to all of you who contributed! Here’s a synopsis of Geir Brendeland’s presentation and the discussion with Råängen team and audience members.

Study: Geir Brendeland

Brendeland & Kristoffersen talk at Skissernas Museum

You are warmly invited to an evening talk by Geir Brendeland at Skissernas Museum on 5 September 2019.

Geir will present Hage, a new public garden for Brunnshög in Lund, due to be completed next spring. The walled garden will be open to all and will provide a space for local people to congregate, cook, talk and exchange ideas.

Photo: Henrik Rosenqvist

Intervene/Shift/Compel

We have posted a precis of our booked-out event at Moderna Museet Malmö ‘Intervene/Shift/Compel’ on our website, read it here.

Photo: Peter Westrup

Last chance!

There are only a few more days left to see Nathan Coley’s sculpture ‘And We Are Everywhere’! We’re de-installing the work on 27 March.

We will be recycling much of the material that the sculpture is made from. Nathan has asked that the three hand-made crosses be kept by Lund Cathedral, perhaps to be used in some shape or form in the future Råängen. We are in conversation with Skissernas Museum about gifting the model made by Nathan to their collection.

‘The Bower of Bliss’, Linder, 2018, Southwark station. Commissioned by Art on the Underground. Photo: Thierry Bal, 2018.

The artist’s role in public life

We are delighted to welcome you to ‘Intervene/Shift/Compel’– a panel discussion involving speakers from Göteborg, Oslo, Malmö, Glasgow and London, to be held at Moderna Museet Malmö on 28 Feb 2019.

We will be grappling with the following issues: How can artists contribute to a discussion about the way we live in the 21st century? What are the mechanisms that artists, curators and commissioners use to make democratic, active public spaces that address urgent, political and social issues? Can such projects bring about societal change or just a shift in perception?

Photo: Henrik Rosenqvist

Public talk with Johan Wester

Lena Sjöstrand (Chaplain, Lund Cathedral) has invited Johan Wester to discuss Nathan Coley’s artwork ‘And We Are Everywhere’ with members of the audience and Cathedral staff. We look forward to a lively debate!

Please join us 16 November at 4.30–5.30pm in Domkyrkoforum.
RSVP to info@raangen.se (free, but limited number of seats)

Photo: Lisa Olausson

Pilgrimage

Please join us for a pilgrimage from Lund Cathedral steps to Råängen on 12 October, 16.00–18.30. This is a wonderful opportunity to walk from the town centre to Brunnshög to see Nathan Coley’s sculpture ‘And We Are Everywhere’, and to discuss the Råängen programme. The pilgrimage will be lead by Magnus Malmgren, the pilgrim priest at Lund Cathedral, with Lena Sjöstrand, Chaplain of the Cathedral/Co-director of Råangen.

Film: HolsterGreen/FEW Agency, 2018

Film festival launch

Our film about Nathan Coley’s sculpture ‘And We Are Everywhere’ is opening the Lund International Architecture Film Festival on 11 October. The theme for this year’s festival is ‘What makes a home?’ and continues until 14 October.

Photo: Kristina Strand Larsson

Kulturnatten & arkitekturdagar

Råängen is part of a panel discussion held by Lunds Kommun for Kulturnatten on Saturday 15 September. Join us! It’s a great opportunity to come to Brunnshög, to see Nathan Coley’s sculpture ‘And We Are Everywhere’ and to find out more about the city’s development plans for the area.

Film: HolsterGreen/FEW Agency, 2018

And We Are Everywhere film

Reflections and thoughts about Nathan Coley’s sculpture ‘And We Are Everywhere’. In the film we hear the Bishop of Lund – Johan Tyrberg, artist Nathan Coley, curator Jes Fernie and Jake Ford from White Architects.

Photo: Peter Westrup

And We Are Everywhere

Nathan Coley’s major new commission ‘And We Are Everywhere’ has been installed and will remain on site until March 2019. Many thanks to all those who came to the launch! More information on the artwork here.

Photo: Nathan Coley

And We Are Everywhere launch

We are delighted to announce that Nathan Coley’s major new commission for Brunnshög will be launched on Saturday 2 June. This is the first artwork to be installed on Lund Cathedral’s land as part of the Råängen programme. Please join us.

Illustration: James Graham

Seminar – book now!

We are delighted to announce details of our seminar in Lund on 28 April. Speakers from London, New York, Berlin and Lund will be discussing the theme of time.

Cathy Haynes, writer, curator and artist
Anna Lagergren, archaeologist
Fiona Raby (Dunne & Raby), academic, architect and designer
Lisa Rosendahl, curator
Lena Sjöstrand, Chaplain, Lund Cathedral

Chaired by Jes Fernie, curator, Råängen.
Domkyrkoforum, Lund, 13.30–18.30.
Download the programme here (PDF).

Film: HolsterGreen/FEW Agency, 2018

Heaven on film

We’ve caught some of the responses to Nathan Coley’s artwork ‘Heaven Is A Place Where Nothing Ever Happens’ on film. Film made by FEW Agency.

Photo: @bengtagram

What is heaven?

Over the last couple of months, Nathan Coley’s artwork ‘Heaven Is A Place Where Nothing Ever Happens’ has been the focus of much discussion in Lund. ‘Why is it here, next to the Cathedral?’, ‘What is Heaven?’, ‘Is this a critique of the Church?’

Olaf Kristoffersen and Geir Brendeland

Architecture commission

We are delighted to announce that Norwegian architects Brendeland & Kristoffersen will be working with us to design a series of structures in Brunnshög over the next couple of years. Ranging from viewing stations, picnic areas and shelters, these structures will encourage people to explore the area.

Photo: Peter Westrup

Nathan Coley artwork installed

A text piece by internationally renowned British artist Nathan Coley has been installed adjacent to Lund Cathedral. ‘Heaven Is A Place Where Nothing Ever Happens’ marks the beginning of our conversation with Lund residents about what happens on the Church’s land in Brunnshög.

Photo: Petra Bindel

Domkyrkoforum display

A selection of photographs of Brunnshög by Petra Bindel were on display at Domkyrkoforum in Lund from 21 October to 9 November. Commissioned by Lund Cathedral to document the Brunnshög landscape for the Råängen programme, Bindel has spent many hours exploring the area over the last year, documenting the character of the site and changes marked by the seasons.

Photo: Henrik Rosenqvist

Konstkväll talk

Lena Sjöstrand, Chaplain of Lund Cathedral, and Jes Fernie, Råängen curator, gave a talk at Domkyrkoforum in Lund for Konstkväll on 21 Oct 2017. They introduced the Råängen programme, discussed the connection between contemporary art and Lund Cathedral, and talked about ambition, internationalism, the future, fear and honey. Petra Bindel’s photographs of Brunnshög formed a backdrop to the discussion.

Photo: Lisa Olausson

Nathan Coley lecture at Skissernas

There was a wonderful turnout for our first event, at Skissernas Museum in Lund. Artist Nathan Coley presented a selection of past projects, outlining his interest in belief systems and how the values of a society are articulated in the architecture and public spaces it produces. Curator Jes Fernie introduced the Råängen programme and Coley’s involvement and chaired a discussion with audience members after the talk.

We are delighted that the director of the Skissernas Museum, Patrick Amsellem, has agreed to become a member of our Advisory Group.

Photo: Petra Bindel

Brunnshög land

The Cathedral took ownership of the land at Brunnshög from the diocese of Lund.

The demolition of the Cathedral’s northern tower 1868.

Lund Cathedral refurbished

Lund Cathedral reopened after a long period of refurbishment overseen by architect Helgo Zetterwall.

'The Giant of the Lund crypt, 31 July 1826.' Ole Jörgen Rawert. Royal Library, Denmark.

Finn the giant

The sculptures in the crypt of Finn the Giant and his wife Gerda, were restored. According to legend, Finn built the church but claimed that it would never be finished. In the same way, the Råängen programme and the Church’s development in Brunnshög will never be completed; they will exist in a state of constant change.

The astronomical clock’s upper clockface. Photo: Theodor Wåhlin 1923. Historical Museum at Lund University.

Astronomical clock installed

The world famous astronomical clock (Horologium mirabile Lundense) was installed in the west end of the south aisle of Lund Cathedral in 1424. It consists of two halves; the upper half is the astronomical clock which tracks the passage of time across the heavens; the lower part is a calendar that measures human time, notifying the congregation of important religious events. At the centre of the clock, Maria sits with Jesus on her lap, linking heaven and earth, time and eternity.

Time is a key element in the Råängen programme; we will hold events in 2018 on the subject, involving artists, architects, farmers, academics and writers.

The high altar with the altar cabinet from 1398, just before its demolition in 1876. Photo: B.A. Lindgren (Georg Gleerups atelier). Historical Museum at Lund University.

High altar consecrated

Lund Cathedral’s High Altar was consecrated to the Virgin Mary and Saint Lawrence. Craftspeople, artists, architects and clergy travelled to Lund from across Europe to be involved in the building of the Cathedral. This internationalism is a hallmark of the Råängen programme.

"The Lund crypt.” Zeuthen 1858. The National Museum, Copenhagen.

East-altar consecrated

The oldest altar in Lund Cathedral, the east-altar located in the crypt, was consecrated in 1123. The Church’s commitment to the land in Lund stretches back almost 900 years and 1,000 years into the future. We are mid-way through the journey.

Illustration: James Graham

Viking settlement

Brunnshög was the site of a Viking settlement which became a centre for rituals and feasts. Our programme of events will re-kindle this history of social gatherings.

Lund Cathedral chapter’s oldest seal, according to a print of 1259.

St Lawrence

St Lawrence, the Patron Saint of Lund Cathedral, was born in Aragon, Spain. He became an archdeacon in Rome and was martyred in the persecution of the Christians ordered by the Roman Emperor Valerian in 258. When he was summoned by the Emperor to display the Church’s treasures he presented the poor people to whom he had distributed the treasure as alms. The Prefect was so angry he ordered a great gridiron to be prepared with hot coals beneath it, hence St Lawrence’s association with the grid. He is the protector of humour, the poor, the Cathedral and the diocese of Lund.

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