Embark Studios

Fresh winds swept through the heavy façades along Kungsträdgårdsgatan when the game developer Embark Studios moved into its new premises. In the interior design, we combined a refined lounge atmosphere with the inventive creativity of the gaming world. A vision that took shape through a unique virtual design process in close collaboration with the client.

The grand former bank buildings on Kungsträdgårdsgatan are magnificent, but not particularly welcoming. They somehow represent the traditional hierarchy between employer and employee, between large corporation and client. That the old bank halls behind door number 16 now house the headquarters of a game developer can be seen as a sign of the times. The rapidly growing gaming industry is among today’s new power players, with Embark as a prime example of a technically innovative organisation. An organisation that invites its users in, blurring the line between developer and player.

Interactivity on all levels at Embark Studios

The new premises were designed in that same spirit. The multifunctional and elegant lobby on the entrance floor is the result of a close and creative collaboration between Tengbom and the gaming company.

“Embark was very involved in the process. They built up the environment in the 3D program Blender, the same software they use to create their games. We could then sit together with them and explore the different environments, especially the entrance lounge. It gave rise to some pretty wild ideas that still landed well in reality,” says Stefan Rydin, business development architect at Tengbom.

“Together, we built up virtual environments that we could walk around in.”

— Stefan Rydin

The interactive concept succeeds in uniting imaginative ideas with the existing bank halls and cross vaults of the building. Embark’s own history is also reflected in the fact that nearly all furniture from the previous office has been reused. And this, entirely in line with the vision of an interior that balances the unexpected with an iconic, international atmosphere. Combinations that might at first seem incongruous have ultimately found their place in a sustainably cohesive lobby composed of velvet-soft seating areas, a bar counter, and a hall of fame celebrating the gaming world.

Super-curated window to the street

“We worked a lot with a coherent colour palette. When you think of brown and blue together, it might not sound like an obvious match at first. But by working with the subtle undertones – seeing the blue’s saturation and the brown’s hints of rust – we created a beautiful palette,” explains Stefan Rydin.

He compares the architect’s role to that of an art curator or a DJ – combining contrasts into a coherent whole. In this case, the goal was to reflect Embark’s identity. The lounge on the entrance floor features large screens that display the company’s work in progress. It’s a hub of inspiration for both employees and visitors. Colours from the screens echo in the ceiling, creating a shifting backdrop that reaches out toward the street. Together with the carefully designed lighting, the space stays vibrant long after closing time.