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The Samtek Idea

The Samtek idea was born in 1986. It was FFV (who needed engineers), Skanska (who wanted to build on their ground) and Eskilstuna municipality (who wanted to support the university and local commerce) who were the driving and financial forces behind the project.

During the first years (1986-1988), a number of various consultant companies tried to develop and carry out the Samtek idea. Nothing happened. In 1988 Arne Marmér (at that time, headmaster of Rinman school, a technical High school) was employed as Managing Director for the project.

The idea was to collect technical development resources in one single city block. The companies should, alone or together, influence the spreading and development of technology in a positive way.

The platform for the Samtek idea was co-operation. The business operations were meant to be facilitated and stimulated with common resources: research and education resources, advanced technical equipment, experimental workshops, consultant help, common services and conference rooms etc.

From the beginning the building was meant to be four-storeyed, but it soon proved to be to small. Many companies were interested in the project so it was decided that the building should have 6 floors. The Samtek House was meant to accommodate the university, various company owned research divisions and some computer companies who wanted to move their entire business into the building.

Skanska started the construction work in 1989. The Samtek House was finished in 1990. However, the recession which started in 1989 forced many companies to pull out from the project. Instead, the university started to expand tremendously. The university has now the major part of the house to its disposal. That the university would dominate the building in such a way was not the original Samtek idea.

The Samtek House

The Samtek House was designed by architect Karl Ove Altenburg from the architect bureau FFNS in Stockholm. The very first drafts of the building were made as early as in 1985. In that point of time, the Samtek idea wasn't yet borne, but the drafts worked as building suggestions to city block Vapensmeden. The only certain thing was that the small dwelling and commercial properties should be demolished and leave space for something new and better.

Altenburg was given free hands when designing the building. The only limit was the outer dimensions, which were determined by the city plan. Karl Ove Altenburg chose to design the building in a post modern style. That means the building shall digest with the surrounding environment. Because Eskilstuna city is a stone city, the Samtek House was provided with a shop floor at ground level, corner towers, distinct entrée and a stylish front which suites the university and the prominent street.

The interior was also designed by Altenburg. However he didn't pick the wallpaper and the furniture - that was done by the interior decorator Yvonne Eklund.

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