Tengbom’s Uppsala Office

When the historic architecture firm Werket Arkitekter AB merged with Tengbom in 2018, the hunt for a larger shared office began. Moving boxes were soon trucked off to Forumkvarteret, a property in the heart of downtown Uppsala. Furnishing was next on the agenda, and the goal was to reuse as much as possible without sacrificing technology or design.

A furnishing concept that reflects our values

The furnishing concept was based on Tengbom’s values: humanism, inclusion, collective intelligence and continuous development. The office should be infused with care for the environment and for human beings. It should inspire and encourage sustainable practices and innovation.

Sustainability and reuse

The space would be decorated and furnished with items that could be reused and integrated into the new concept, including any necessary additions. A large quantity of Tengbom’s own furniture was reused, while refurbished furniture was purchased from suppliers such as Rekomo, Senab and TreCe.

All of the suppliers we worked with have a strong environmental focus. Furniture that was not used was bought by Rekomo, or donated in partnership with the charity Stadsmissionen.

– Intuition and patience are essential for incorporating so many recycled furnishings.

Eva Brännvall, Project Manager

An environment for well-being and efficiency

The office had an open, unexpected and inclusive floor plan. Using clear spaces within the rooms as well as plenty of varied environments in which to spend time and work, strolling through the office was a bit of a journey of discovery.

Areas for collaboration were centrally located to promote creative processes. Other, more relaxed areas encouraged spontaneous meetings and conversation. The idea was for employees to be able to choose where to work based on their current assignment.

The mix of furnishings created a laid-back and welcoming atmosphere. It merged history and the present in a dynamic yet harmonious way.

The result?

A bustling meeting place where the key rule was that there were no rules. It was a furnishing solution with a reuse rate of 90 percent.

1 less journey around the earth by car

Rekomo bought up older, big desks instead of purchasing new ones. They added used adjustable table legs and recycled desktops. In CO2 emissions, this has saved the equivalent of one journey around the earth by car.