Öjeby Kyrkstad
Year: 2021
Client: Piteå Kommun & PiteEnergi
Installer: PiteEnergi

On the coast of the Gulf of Bothnia, about 100 kilometers south of the Arctic Circle, lies Piteå—a small town full of stark contrasts and a welcoming atmosphere. In the heart of the town, you’ll find Öjeby Kyrkstad, one of the largest and best-preserved church towns in the Nordic region, located on the site where the city of Piteå was originally founded. Here, old, small cottages line irregular, winding streets and alleys.

Church towns were primarily found in northern Sweden, where parishes were so large that parishioners had to travel long distances. The cottages were built to provide families with a place to stay overnight when visiting the church. It’s hard to determine exactly when these church cottages were built, but recent dating suggests they were likely constructed sometime in the late 18th century.

In preparation for Piteå’s 400th anniversary in 2021, Piteå Municipality, together with PiteEnergi, decided to review and replace the street lighting in Öjebyn. Since the church town is a protected cultural heritage site and has been carefully restored, it was crucial that the lighting be adapted to the historical environment. They also wanted a more energy-efficient alternative to the old mercury vapor lighting.

The choice fell on Ark Medi pole-mounted luminaires—a classic and timeless fixture with a replaceable LED module, manufactured at the luminaire factory in Bankeryd. Ark is designed to withstand the harsh northern climate characterized by long, cold winters. The Ark’s omnidirectional, well-shielded light effectively illuminates the narrow streets while highlighting the unique character of the buildings and the area. The tasteful lighting evokes a sense of how the church town may have looked in the past.