Nians New Face
Gallerian Nian has undergone several makeovers
during its more than 50 years as Gävle’s central shopping mall.
The latest one was inaugurated in the spring of 2026.
As in so many other cities, it started with a hole in the ground.
Several city blocks—including a cinema, a taxi stand, and an entire street—had been demolished to make way for a new, modern Domus department store. It opened in 1973, featuring a design typical of the era’s Brutalist concrete style.
In the early 1990s, the department store was expanded, and a Filmstaden multiplex cinema moved in. The façade was clad in dark-tinted glass, reflecting the trends of the time. The Domus era ended in 2004, giving way to the Nian shopping mall. During the 2010s, the parking decks were enlarged and the office levels were remodeled.
NIAM and Cavendo took over ownership in 2023. By then, Nian had recently undergone a partial renovation following severe damage from the 2021 Gävle floods; however, vacancy rates remained high, and action was needed. Many storefronts stood empty, particularly on the lower level. Some units had been vacant for years, despite a strong tenant mix elsewhere in the mall, featuring anchor tenants such as Coop, Systembolaget, Clas Ohlson, and H&M.
Wester + Elsner was already working on other shopping centers owned by NIAM and Cavendo, so it was a natural step for us to be commissioned to assist with Nian as well.
Together with our client, we developed a bold proposal aimed at making the lower level more visible, accessible, and commercially attractive.
The solution involved widening and connecting the two openings between the levels by cutting away large sections of the floor slab, removing escalators to consolidate foot traffic and improve visibility for key anchor tenants, and reconfiguring the lower-level layout to bring storefronts forward, making them visible from street level—all featuring an updated and appealing design.
In contrast to the previously enclosed feel of the lower level, the mall’s central, unifying space is now a plaza bathed in daylight flowing down through the atrium.
Work began in 2024, and upon completion in the spring of 2026, the result was a fully leased shopping center featuring new tenants (including MQ, Gina Tricot, Lekia, Normal, and Nordic Wellness) and updated premises for existing tenants such as Clas Ohlson and Akademibokhandeln.
In addition to the major overhaul of the master plan and the lower level, we also worked on refreshing the food court, renovating customer restrooms, providing leasing support and marketing materials for new tenants, and planning and designing the new dental clinic that now complements the range of services at Gallerian Nian.
