Public art has been part of Päivi Ernkvist’s practice since she was a student. She has made valuable contributions both as a maker and a dynamic project manager. During her time as a project manager at the Public Art Agency, she was part of the process that led to the award-winning design of Stortorget in Kalmar. In Kalmar, she has also, in collaboration with landscape architect Anna Wyn-Jones Frank and archaeologist Stefan Larsson, designed the Kvarteret Valnötsträdet located in Kalmar’s medieval city center.

From the 13th to the end of the 17th century, Kalmar played a central role in Sweden’s east coast defense and trade with other countries. In the central Kvarteret Valnötsträdet there was a church, square, and town hall. The work on the design was ongoing between 2010–2018 and started with a thorough planning process influenced by the work with Stortorget. The process resulted in a design that consists of several parts that captures the poetry of the place as well as creating an active dialogue between the past, the history of the place, and our present time.