Parking on the outskirts of the city center

Across the street, you’ll see the Ekorren parking garage. An important part of Skellefteå’s transformation involves something as everyday as parking. To create a city where people have more space, the car needs to take on a new role.

Not necessarily less important, but more thoughtfully integrated. And the fact is that Södra Järnvägsgatan, which you’ve just walked up, is part of that change. It is a corridor that is evolving into part of Skellefteå’s main network for cycling and walking. The balance is shifting step by step—from a place dominated by traffic to a corridor where it becomes easier to move at your own pace. Closer to the city.

Because even when the city is designed for people, we’ll still need to get here. To work, to meetings, to shops, and to experiences. This is where strategically placed parking garages come into the picture. In Skellefteå, they are located adjacent to the major access routes and on the outskirts of the city center. Close enough to walk, yet sufficiently set apart so as not to encroach on city life.

The idea is simple: it should be easy to drive into the city, but even easier to get around on foot or by bike once you’re there. One of the most notable examples is the Ekorren parking garage. A modern and accessible parking garage that helps reduce the need for street parking and large parking lots in the city center.

Ekorren is also a clear example of how infrastructure can contribute to a more sustainable city. The frame, made of glulam and cross-laminated timber, is based on raw materials from the surrounding forests, and the choice of materials reduces the carbon footprint compared to traditional construction methods. In this way, the parking garage becomes more than just a destination for cars. It becomes a natural starting point for sustainable urban life.

Before the Ekorren parking garage was built, the site was filled with old outbuildings and a courtyard in the neighborhood, well-known for a radio and TV repair shop. The parking garage was completed in 2014 and is the Nordic region’s first parking garage made entirely of wood. The City of Skellefteå has designated the building as culturally and historically significant.