Mariedal

An unpolished gem on historic ground. Högskolefastigheter i Jönköping were fully aware of what they were entrusted with at Munksjön. Mariedal was erected in the 19th century as a country retreat for the merchant Westman and his family. The property is sought after for both its heritage and its location. But time had left its mark, not only through wear, but also through the gradual refurbishments that had taken place over the years, giving the building a patchwork-like character.

When it was once again time for renewal, the intention was to adopt a holistic approach and bring forward the original qualities of the property. Tengbom was commissioned to restore and furnish the premises for modern needs. The assignment presented a challenge, requiring us to adapt the building for accessibility while recreating a classical aesthetic using historic materials and a coherent character.

The goal? To take a firm design approach and, with clear strokes, transform a rather tired and worn interior into a positive experience. We developed many bespoke solutions and also improvised new ones during construction, as the client identified additional needs along the way.

Modern interiors with an aesthetic that looks back

We decided early on to focus on the aesthetic of the period during which the building underwent its most extensive renovation, around 1912. Inspiration was drawn from signatures such as Waldemarsudde and Ellen Key. The rooms were given rich colour palettes and wallpapered with intricate botanical patterns. Based on our colour proposal, Statens konstråd selected appropriate artworks for the interiors. In the hall, for example, hangs an impressionistic oil painting whose expression is heightened by the dark colour scheme.

We gave each room its own character. In the upper salon, calm and cool tones set the mood, with dark blue and plum-coloured textiles. In the kitchen, we painted the walls in terracotta and added a diagonal chequered linoleum floor.

Bespoke details complete the impression

To create the right atmosphere, we designed key pieces like a plant stand, an easel for a digital screen, and a display cabinet with mesh panels. As the project evolved, we added smaller items too — the original candlesticks, waste bins, doorstops and tablecloths didn’t match the concept at all.

Form and function for the future

Sustainability was also a guiding value in the work with Mariedal. In addition to choosing natural materials and eco-labelled furniture, we made a considerable effort to assess what could be reused. We prioritised alterations to prominent public areas and preserved existing building components that were in acceptable condition. From a sustainability perspective, it is not justifiable to remove functioning equipment, ventilation, flooring and similar elements.

One can also speak of sustainability in stylistic terms. Within the university sector, there is neither the budget nor the rationale to continually adopt new design trends. For that reason, we selected products that we believe to be both timeless and functional.

At Mariedal, much of the work centred on refining the old and, with fairly modest means, achieving significant transformation in both aesthetics and functionality.

“We worked closely with the client and the developer throughout the project. It was a creative and exciting process for everyone involved,” says interior architect Ulrika Tjernström.

“Jönköping University had high ambitions for Mariedal but were accustomed to the standard solutions typically used in the university sector. Our interior concept deviated from that, yet they embraced it completely. The developer, in turn, faced the challenge of realising all the crafted details the premises required.”

Tengbom is proud to have contributed to what is hopefully a long refinement process – one that has begun in the remaining historic buildings around the central lake in Jönköping.