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AIK Shop

Where rawness meets passion and love
Interior Design
Retail, Sports
Client: AIK, River
Assignment year: 2018
Contractor: Need+Mannerfeldt Group AB
Location: Stockholm

In a prime location at Friends Arena, Tengbom’s interior architects have created a shop and meeting place that is neither for the team nor for AIK as a club. It is for its supporters. At the AIK Shop, visitors will find a living room, museum and shop.

Heart and soul

Since it was built in 1937, Råsunda football stadium has been the heart and soul of AIK. When the stadium was demolished in 2013, the team found a new home at Friends Arena. In spring 2018, Tengbom was commissioned to create a new meeting place with a strong identity. A supporters’ shop, in a prime location within the arena building, just a stone’s throw from Mall of Scandinavia.

Three original seats from the stands at Råsunda now provide seating in the AIK Shop for visitors trying on shoes.

An emotional process

Nostalgic objects tell the story of the club’s history.

Working closely with your target audience involves navigating a great deal of emotion. Especially when that audience consists of committed and passionate football supporters who live for the colour combination of black and yellow. The pride surrounding the club and the team became the core of the project. A place where Råsunda’s long tradition is embedded “in the walls”, while also responding to the consumption patterns and needs of tomorrow.

Today’s consumers are highly informed and well prepared. If they are going to visit a physical shop, it needs to offer added value. That was the challenge we worked with, and it resulted in the heart of the shop.

A metaphor for love

We designed the 500-square-metre shop around the heart of AIK. It symbolises the supporters’ passion and devotion. At the same time, it takes physical form as tiered seating. Here, in the supporters’ shared living room, visitors can watch old matches and explore nostalgic objects. They can also watch as staff print personalised match shirts. Together, these elements create a sense of belonging and community.

Early on, the team conceptualised the heart and incorporated it into the sketches.

An open flow through the AIK Shop

To enable a fast and seamless sales flow while allowing staff to interact with supporters, we also positioned the checkout counters in the centre. The result is a shop that always feels lively, welcoming and like home – even on non-match days.

A feel for materials

The material palette in the AIK Shop reflects a sense of rawness, authenticity and urban character. Raw materials with an equally raw expression, you might say. Unsurprisingly, black and yellow dominate the colour palette, with touches of gold adding contrast. Yellow-tinted glass, wood-fibre flooring and concrete contribute to a sporty, urban atmosphere.

Contact person

Nadia Tolstoy

Design Lead
+46 730 68 82 22

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Malmö Central Station food court

New on the menu, since 1872
Architecture
Infrastructure, Restaurants
Client: Jernhusen
Opened: 2026
LOA: 2,000 m²
Location: Malmö
Photographer: Mads Frederik

When Malmö Central Station was to get a new food court, we had to turn back the pages. And in the listed station building, we found the structure that could give today’s travellers clearer routes, better sightlines and a more comfortable wait. We designed a timeless and welcoming restaurant environment for travellers, passers-by and hungry stomachs.

Malmö Central Station has undergone many changes over the years. Its history therefore became one of our most important tools when we began working on the new restaurant environment. The original station had a clear central axis running through the hall – a structure that had gradually been built over.

We reinstated the central axis and moved the northern entrance back to its original position. The restaurants were placed along the walls, opening up the circulation routes and providing better sightlines through the hall. Together with new lighting and a variety of seating options, this has made the station more spacious and easier to navigate.

“We delved deep into the building’s history to find a solution that preserves the setting as much as it enhances it. Designing a contemporary restaurant environment in a listed building is, of course, about function, but also about allowing the timeless qualities to remain visible and live on,” says Josefin Klein, lead architect at Tengbom.

Architecture for dining and waiting

Since opening this spring, all restaurant premises have found tenants, and the food court has become a well-visited part of the station. The reinstated northern entrance is frequently used, and the new passages between Centralhallen and Glashallen are working as intended.

Long live reuse!

At a central station, a pause can last almost any length of time. This guided the variety of seating – it needs to work equally well for someone stopping briefly and for someone who, voluntarily or otherwise, has three hours to while away.

At the same time, Gröna hallen became a generous dining hall. Here, visitors can sit together regardless of which restaurant they have chosen. The spaces also serve as waiting areas and meeting points for the station as a whole.

Reuse in a bistro vocabulary

In the refurbishment, we retained as much of the existing material as possible. The white tiles were preserved, while steel from the former restaurants was reused in the new interiors. The mix of materials, including ribbed glass, timber panelling and reused steel, gives the food court a light and warm bistro character that connects with the building’s history.

Together with Jernhusen, we are now continuing the work to develop Gröna hallen for evening use.

“Our task is to make the hall even more attractive and turn it into a destination in its own right. After all, we want people to spend time here rather than simply pass through on their way to the train,” Josefin concludes.

In parallel, we are working on new office environments in the listed Terminusbyggnaden. Here, we are developing concepts for the workplaces of the future in a location with excellent commuter connections.

Contact person

Josefin Klein

+46 40 641 31 18

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Aurora Village in Luleå

Home sweet module
Interior Design
Residential
Client: Adapteo
Location: Storporsön, Luleå
Move-in: 2026
Scope: 39 buildings, including 37 residential buildings as well as service and activity buildings

Living far from home is one thing. Doing so during intensive work periods alongside 2,000 others is another. At Aurora Village, we have pushed the fixed boundaries of modular construction, using neurodesign and northern Swedish nature as tools. Creating space for time together, moments alone and an everyday life that feels a little more like home.

Aurora Village is being built on Storporsön in Luleå by Adapteo and Strawberry Living for the people working on SSAB’s transition to fossil-free steel production. With 39 buildings and a capacity equivalent to the largest hotel in the Nordic region, this is workforce accommodation on an unusually large scale.

We developed the interior design concept for the residential rooms, entrance and reception, dining halls, gym and activity buildings, including a sauna, cinema, games room and library. The starting point was simple but important: temporary accommodation does not have to feel temporary.

Fixed dimensions. Free thinking.

Modular construction comes with standardised dimensions from the outset. Functions and logistics also follow clearly defined parameters. This can, of course, be perceived as a limitation, but for us it instead became a creative starting point – and a considerable challenge.

“When you have clear parameters, you are forced to think intelligently and look for opportunities. The best ideas often emerge from given conditions. This project really challenges the design mind,”

Nadia Tolstoy, Lead Interior Architect

Materials, colours, lighting, furnishings and carefully considered details bring warmth and variation to the rational systems. The environments need to work in everyday life and feel good to come home to after the working day, whether you want to spend time with others or retreat for a while to recover. The aim is to create a sense of security and togetherness.

Northern forests indoors

The interior design builds on two previous concepts we developed for Adapteo. This time, we have ventured deeper into the northern Swedish landscape. Pine trunks, bark and deep forest tones find their way into the materials and colour palette, with natural materials, walnut tones, deep green and rust red recurring throughout. The result is a warm, rich Scandinavian expression that connects the interior to its setting.

The expression shifts between the different environments, each of which has been given its own distinct identity. The gym is darker and more urban. In the hotel-inspired reception area, soft carpets meet Chesterfield sofas and a water-vapour fireplace. A bespoke reception desk and a feature wall of thinly cut genuine natural stone veneer give the space tactility and weight.

Neurodesign for 700 voices

How does a room feel after a long working day? What happens when hundreds of conversations are taking place around you? How stressed do you become in a particular environment? Through neurodesign, we have worked with factors that the brain registers long before we consciously put them into words. Sound, light, colour, materials and variation influence how we experience an environment and play a role in both our sense of security and our ability to recover. In a large facility where many people live during intensive periods of work, avoiding an institutional atmosphere is particularly important.

In the dining hall, this becomes very tangible. Up to 700 people need to be able to eat and talk here at the same time. Acoustics have therefore been an important part of the design. A lively murmur is welcome – it is part of sharing a meal. But you still need to be able to hear the person on the other side of the table.

Quick facts

Contents: 2000 residential rooms, reception and lounge, dining halls, gym and activity buildings including a sauna, cinema, games room and libraryTengbom’s assignment: Interior design concept and preparation of building permit documents ahead of the development

More interior, please!

Interior design for the next cycle

Aurora Village is based on Adapteo’s circular model, in which modular buildings can be relocated, adapted and reused for new needs. This approach also extends to the interiors. Here, the focus is on materials and long-term usability. Thanks to robust solutions, carefully considered environments and a design in which people enjoy spending time, the buildings can continue to be used and adapted over time.

“When modular buildings are designed with care and a sense of home, they last longer, are used more and can meet a wider range of needs. Our work becomes a human complement to Adapteo’s circular ambitions,” Nadia explains.

Neurodesign helps us understand and shape environments that give the senses a little less to process once the working day is over

Life between shifts

A large part of life at Aurora Village begins when the working day ends. At that point, it should be simple and easy to retreat, exercise, eat together, watch a film, read or simply sit down for a while. Different rooms accommodate different needs and different degrees of social interaction.

“Many people will live here, far from home, during an intensive period of work. In that situation, you need more than a bed and a door you can close behind you. You need warmth, security and environments that feel thoughtfully designed. We want to create a place where people can genuinely feel well and at home. Even if they are only here temporarily,” says Nadia.

Contact person

Kristina Jonasson

+46 708 23 14 33

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Sala backe Pavilion

Leafy shade in steel
Sala backe Pavilion
Interior Design, Landscape
Parks, Play & Public Spaces, Product Design, Squares & Streets
Client: Nola
Location: Uppsala
Project year: 2024-2025
Type of project: Pavilion for outdoor environments
Photographer: Jann Lipka

Create shade without trees. Okay, we said. Sala backe Pavilion occupies nine square metres of perforated steel somewhere at the point where product design crosses over into architecture.

Anders Diös torg is part of Östra Sala backe. The former power line corridor between Sala backe and Årsta is now being transformed into an urban environment with housing, parks and squares. In phase two, we designed the landscape, with the square forming a link between the neighbourhoods. The design draws inspiration from the 1950s – from the pattern of the paving to the lighting and the small house-like forms in the square.

Beneath the square lies a less visible condition that shaped our work. Large water reservoirs make it impossible to plant trees here, challenging the need for shade, places to rest and spatial definition. Sala backe Pavilion emerged from this very contradiction. A kind of canopy had to take shape in another way.

Sala backe Pavilion

Like a child drawing a house

The form is archetypal. Almost as though a child’s first drawing of a house had grown up and become a sculpture. The architecture of the Swedish welfare-state era is present in its expression, connecting it to developer Anders Diös, whose legacy is an important part of the site.

As well as providing a place to sit in (and on), the pavilion also becomes a clear marker of identity. A small jewel that defines, reinforces and blends into its setting all at once.

“We wanted to create something that feels contemporary yet timeless, with an identity of its own. The house form is almost childishly simple, but the perforated pattern in the walls and roof creates a sensory lattice of light and shadow. Like the illusion of a leafy canopy. It becomes a small room within the larger urban space,” says Linus Fridén, interior architect and head of product design at Tengbom.

Hard steel, soft light

The durable steel is both electrogalvanised and powder-coated, allowing the pavilion to withstand weather, wind and everyday wear. The material makes it possible to work freely with form and colour. And here, it is the golden hue that makes all the difference.

Sala backe Pavilion

Small in scale, significant in impact

The pavilion measures 3 x 3 metres and rises 3.5 metres above the ground – a compact yet powerful structure. It is both furniture and meeting place, shelter and vantage point. Above all, it is a reminder that small architectural gestures can make the greatest difference to a place.

“The boundary between furniture and architecture is fascinating. Sala backe is a product, but spatially it functions as architecture. The perforations in the panels spark curiosity, and each opening frames a new part of the surroundings, creating a sense of narrative and wonder,” says Linus.

Sala backe Pavilion Sala backe Pavilion

Sala backe in everyday life

Sala backe Pavilion was created as part of a courtyard space where safety and well-being are central. And it shows. Neighbours stop here to talk, children slip in and out through the perforated pattern, and passers-by find a moment of rest. It works equally well on a sunny morning or a late summer evening, reminding us that good design does not have to be large to make a difference.

Contact person

Linus Fridén

+46 133 55 533

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Henriksdalskolan

Home-like
Architecture, Interior Design, Landscape
Education
Client: Vellinge Municipality
Location: Vellinge
Completed: 2025
Photography: Mads Frederik

How large can a school become without feeling large? What happens when a preschool to grade 9 school is divided into smaller buildings, courtyards, and pathways? At Henriksdalskolan in Höllviken, architecture, interior design, and outdoor environments shape a cohesive everyday life, rooted in traditional building culture and village structure. And with a sense of safety throughout.

When we were commissioned to design a new school in Vellinge, the goal was clear: the school should be a safe and welcoming place. Both during and after school hours. A municipal framework for increased safety in and around school environments became an important starting point in the design process.

— Our goal was to create environments where students and staff feel safe, included, and involved. Using our methodology Socially sustainable living environment, we were able to define and follow up on social values throughout the entire process, says Ellen Persson, lead architect at Tengbom in Malmö.

Dividing the large

So how do you make a larger school building fit into a small-scale context? The detailed development plan provided a long, linear building volume to work with. We chose to break it down and divide it into smaller buildings and clearly defined parts, allowing the school to feel more like a cluster of buildings than a single large one.

The materials, in turn, anchor the building to its place. Brick and wood reference the surrounding environment and help the building settle naturally into its context.

The design draws on the Scanian building tradition with a courtyard structure of four wings. This creates sheltered courtyards with protection from the wind and clearly defined spaces for staying and gathering. At the same time, they open toward the flat landscape, making the site easy to read and navigate.

Learning in motion

All learning environments were planned with flexibility in mind. The spaces were designed to evolve over time and adapt to different pedagogical needs without losing clarity. Circulation routes, niches, and shared areas function as natural meeting places for teaching, collaboration, and rest.

— Each classroom, group room, and break area has its own identity, yet they are tied together by a common thread in materials, light, and proportions. This creates environments that feel both cohesive and varied, says Kajsa Larsson, project architect.

A schoolyard for everyone also includes our flying companions

Materials with meaning

We carefully selected materials and colors to create a calm, durable, and legible environment. The foundation consists of natural materials and muted tones.

Three thematic landscape elements — beach, heathland, and pine grove — recur in the color palette and material choices. This gives each part of the school its own character while maintaining a coherent whole.

— We are particularly proud of the wood paneling and how it contributes to a robust, sound-absorbing, tactile, and beautiful indoor environment, Kajsa continues.

Creative schoolyard – also for bats

The client’s intention was for the schoolyard to become an integrated part of the community. No fences or walls exclude, everyone has access to the yard after school hours.

An ambitious lighting concept was developed to ensure the schoolyard felt safe even in the evening. But adjustments were needed. Existing bat colonies risked being disturbed by the planned lighting, so the concept was adapted to suit the bats’ sensitive navigation abilities. A schoolyard for everyone also includes our flying companions.

One step ahead throughout the construction phase

It is during construction that many aspects are put to the test. Decisions must be made quickly, and new questions arise along the way. Being involved throughout the entire construction phase and working proactively ensured a highly successful result.

— By being present on site weekly, we were able to address questions immediately and, through close dialogue with the client and contractor, find solutions that were both cost-effective and well-functioning, concludes Kajsa Larsson.

Contact person

Josefin Klein

+46 40 641 31 18

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Sandhagen, Fjällbacka

Functionalism and salty swims
Architecture, Interior Design
Residential
Client: Brixly
Building type: Multi-family residential building
Tenure: Condominium apartments
Residential floor area: 150–170 m²
Completed: 2024
Photographer: Felix Gerlach

From iconic seaside restaurant to residential building rooted in the functionalism of the 1930s. We designed seven apartments on the site once occupied by the well-frequented Badis. But traces remain — in the architecture, in the volumes, and in the relationship to the sea. Now the Fjällbacka archipelago comes alive again.

Badis was built in 1937 and for a long time was a natural meeting place in Fjällbacka. The restaurant attracted both local residents and summer visitors from afar. Perhaps you have heard the stories of Ingrid Bergman’s summers on Sweden’s west coast.

“We wanted to design a building that feels entirely at home in Fjällbacka while also bearing traces of the site’s history. By interpreting the functionalist architecture of the 1930s, we were able to connect to Badis without copying it,” says Annelie Drackner, lead architect at Tengbom’s Gothenburg office.

When the area was to be developed again, the ambition was to build on what characterizes Fjällbacka in particular. The new building is located directly by the quay at the harbour entrance, with sweeping views of the archipelago and the community’s distinctive buildings.

Recast functionalism

The design draws on the architecture that defined the original seaside restaurant. The vertical rhythm of the timber façades, large expanses of glazing free from muntins, and shallow roofs all clearly reference functionalism. At the same time, the interpretation belongs here and now.

The division into two volumes also remains in the new building. The southern part is marked by a rounded central section —a form that echoes Badis’s distinctive silhouette.

Architecture facing the sea

The apartments are planned to make the most of the views over the harbour entrance and the archipelago. The building’s first floor is located just over seven meters above sea level, providing unobstructed sightlines towards the water from every level. Each apartment has its own boat berth directly adjacent to the newly laid quay below.

The materials have been selected for quality and long service life. Kitchens and storage solutions are custom designed and crafted in solid materials, with each home adapted to the needs of its residents.

The timber façades, large expanses of glazing free from muntins, and shallow roofs all clearly reference functionalism

A building that carries on

Designing something new on a site that many people already have a relationship with requires sensitivity to what was there before. It also takes courage to carry it forward in a new way. For us, Sandhagen became exactly that, a project in which the memories of Badis were allowed to accompany something new. Where life now continues to move between house and sea.

Contact person

Annelie Drackner

+46 708 88 20 91

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Tengbom’s Gothenburg office

Where we get to be human
Interior Design
Offices
Client: Tengbom
Location: Folkungagatan 20, Gothenburg
Property owner: Alecta Fastigheter
Collaborator: Rekomo
Year of completion: 2025
Photographer: Alice Johansson and Therese Andersson Wåhlström

We wanted to move closer to what we believe in as architects – reuse, openness, and spaces that can withstand everyday use. A creative office where it is easy to settle in in the morning, think clearly after the afternoon coffee, and linger in conversation a little longer than planned. With this in mind, we shaped our new office in Gothenburg.

The need for new premises stemmed from a desire to work in a way that better reflects what our working days actually look like. We wanted an office we look forward to coming to. A place where it is easy to sit down, think clearly, exchange a few words, and then step into the creative flow.

Today, this is evident in daily life. Conversations arise naturally, focus areas are used precisely for focus, and every room performs its role – seamlessly, without drawing attention to itself. The colours are light yet anything but timid. The materials are durable. There is both softness and a sharper edge, and the contrast creates a pleasant calm without feeling staged. This is an office where you are allowed to be human, not just a professional role.

“The light and airy colour palette makes the spaces feel open and generous. It is easy to concentrate, but also to pause and think in new ways,” says Caroline Cornu, lead interior architect at Tengbom.

Almost everything has lived a previous life

A large part of the work on our Gothenburg office was based on making use of what we already had. Practising what we preach. Most of the furniture was therefore brought along from our former office. The rest was sold through Rekomo, and when additions were needed, they too were sourced through reuse from the same supplier. Today, the interior consists almost entirely of furniture that has lived a previous working life. Chairs, tables, and sofas bear traces of use and now have an obvious place in our everyday environment. That sense of authenticity is visible and tangible in the rooms.

The environment is vibrant, forgiving, and an important reminder to us that good things do not have to be new

Spaces for different tempos

The work areas are clearly defined. Some invite concentration, others encourage collaboration. And those quick check-ins that might otherwise block a narrow corridor? They have their own place too. Together, the zones help us shift pace throughout the day without having to leave the office or disturb one another.

A sociable corner location

Several organisations have their home base in “Vi på hörnet”. And it truly makes a difference to the working day when lift rides, entrances, and shared spaces suddenly become spontaneous meetings and engaging conversations. When the office becomes part of a larger context rather than a closed world of its own. More greetings, fewer thresholds.

The project was led by the team at the Gothenburg office, with Kajsa Crona and Amanda Karlberg in main responsible roles. Lead interior architect throughout the entire process, from first sketch to move-in, was Caroline Cornu.

Contact person

Kajsa Crona

+46 727 07 79 73

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Nederman The Clean Air Company

Where the air is the main character
Architecture, Interior Design
Industry, Offices
Client: Wihlborgs fastighets AB, Veidekke
Location: Helsingborg
GFA: 26,000 m²
Project years: 2022–2024
Photographer: Felix Gerlach

It begins with an idea so self-evident that one almost forgets how unusual it is: clean air. In Helsingborg, Nederman, a world leader in industrial air filtration, has built its new home. Here, the company gathers its entire operation – 26 000 square metres of technology, craftsmanship and human consideration.

When Tengbom was commissioned to design the new facility, the task was not solely about efficient logistics and flows, although that is of course always essential. It was also about ensuring that the building itself reflected the company’s vision of clean air and sustainable development. The building brings production, storage and offices together with an innovation centre featuring a showroom, test environments and training areas.

“This is a facility designed not only to drive innovation and efficient production but also communication and togetherness – from the precise and high-performing to the open and welcoming. We wanted to design a technical and work environment with the human being at its centre, where all employees meet in a meaningful way,” says Patrik Ekenhill, lead architect at Tengbom.

Technology’s social hub

At the heart of the building, a central atrium opens up. It is generous, warm and bright, with timber staircases and seating that encourage movement and pause rather than performance. Here, people from offices, production and storage come together to share coffee, ideas and everyday life. The atrium is bathed in daylight, with stairs and tiered seating that invite people to stop and talk.

“The entrance hall is our social focal point. This is where Nederman’s identity becomes physical – where technology meets the people who work here,” says Maeva Chardon, project lead interior architect at Tengbom.

From darkness to clarity

The architectural expression follows the same process as Nederman’s products: filtration. The dark metal façade represents industry, strength and precision. Inside, you encounter a brighter environment – timber, greenery and open spaces that bring a sense of balance. A movement from gravity to clarity. From machine to human.

Thanks to an intelligent design and procurement strategy, 85 per cent of the furniture was reused

Nederman’s new facility was nominated for Helsingborg’s urban design award. From the jury’s motivation:

“The building takes its starting point in Nederman’s identity and translates the principles of air purification into architecture. The dark external metal shell meets interiors of light natural materials, where timber and greenery create a sensory and warm environment. The entrance hall functions as an inclusive heart where all employees meet – regardless of role – and where community, transparency and movement are key values.

With BREEAM certification, a solar park, 85% reused interior fittings and a focus on long-term robustness, the project is a model for the circular construction of the future. Nederman’s new facility is an example of how industrial architecture can be both efficient and beautiful – where technology and humanity meet in balance. A building that reflects the company’s vision of clean air and sustainable development.”

Surrounded by greenery

The surrounding greenery is the site’s great asset – something we chose to strengthen rather than change. The building is embedded in a green forecourt: meadow areas along the streets and more planted zones by the entrance. The dark façades meet the greenery in a calm and understated way, while the long window bands offer generous views across the production hall – towards the trees in the north and the sunlight in the south.

The three office floors enclose a green courtyard with daylight, outlooks and shelter. Here, a wind-protected microclimate emerges where one can take a break or move work outdoors for a moment. The timber façades in the courtyard, together with the warm interior of the entrance hall, create a soft contrast to the dark exterior. The building is also green in operation: a solar park on the roof helps make the facility partly self-sufficient. The entire project is BREEAM-certified, level Very Good.

Beyond hierarchies

Around 250 people work at Nederman. No one has a better view than anyone else. Offices and production sit side by side with shared dining areas, a gym and terraces.

“We want to be a ‘Nederman Home’ where every employee has their place and where the environment reflects who we are. Light, air and natural materials help us feel well and work better,” says Nederman’s CEO Sven Kristensson.

New pulse in the neighborhood

Where an anonymous and worn-out industrial area once stood, there is now a workplace pulsing with energy. Nederman contributes a new rhythm to the district – a new era from industry to environmental technology company.

“The property is designed so that everyone who works here has the same access and status. It is an inclusive environment that I believe is vital for well-being in a company,” says Benjamin Ulfgard, Wihlborgs.

Contact person

Josefin Klein

+46 40 641 31 18

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Valtech

Modern needs meet history
Interior Design
Offices
Client: Valtech
Project years: 2015-2016
Location: Kungsholmen, Stockholm
Project type: Office
Developer: Idé Design

A cherished listed factory building and a high-tech contemporary company with a desire for openness and interaction. How can they be made to work together? We recognised the challenge, yet did not hesitate when Valtech approached us for a refurbishment of their premises.

Responsiveness lies at the heart of Valtech’s business concept; they are driven by a genuine wish to improve their clients’ everyday lives. Now it was time to improve their own. The premises on Kungsholmen in Stockholm are somewhat demanding: old, listed and filled with a host of technical complexities. But Valtech wanted to remain in place; their affection for the former minting factory runs deep.

“They have a strong connection to the premises, and our task is to update them continuously. They have the option on all rooms in the old factory, and we have developed a concept that we are gradually expanding,” explains interior architect Magnus Lindgren.

Three rooms, one vision

The first step was the Talangrummet, a space where younger talents can meet the company, become inspired and want to stay. It offers a playful and relaxed atmosphere. Next came the lab, designed to allow a step away from the digital, encouraging a more hands-on approach using paper, pens, cutting and assembling. The final element in this phase was the combined multifunctional room, which also serves as the reception. Inspiration came from the restaurant around the corner, Mäster Anders.

“It is their favourite restaurant and they wanted the same atmosphere,” says Magnus Lindgren. It was to function as a restaurant and bar for informal meetings. They host around 300 events per year in this space. Previously there was only a conference table, a few chairs, a projector and poor lighting. Now they wanted a more complete meeting place. They should not need to run off to a storage room or hire tables and chairs. The room should be autonomous.

Inspiration from history and surroundings with Valtech

The old factory did not only present challenges but also provided the starting point for several material choices. We retained the industrial character, and the coins inspired many of the metals in the restaurant area: brass tables and copper details. The architects also took inspiration from the large walnut tree growing in the courtyard.

“It is truly beautiful. It is enormous, like a roof over the entire courtyard, so walnut felt like an obvious choice for the details. Earlier we established the core concept for how we wanted to shape the premises, and naturally we drew on the character of the former factory.”

Good collaboration with unexpected skills development as a bonus

What matters most to Magnus Lindgren and the rest of the interiors team is that the client is satisfied and receives premises that are both functional and pleasant. And in this they have succeeded: Valtech wishes to continue the collaboration. They appreciate both the public spaces and the more discreet lab.

A delightful detail is that Valtech were so pleased with the restaurant area that the CEO sent all 200 employees on a barista course so they could make the most of the space.

“Yes, they care deeply about such small details. It is fantastic! For us it is self-evident to work with the client, not against them. We work towards their goals, not to create our own imprint. We look forward to continued collaboration with Valtech. They enjoy working with us and we enjoy working with them.”

Contact person

Kristina Jonasson

+46 708 23 14 33

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Mariedal

Refined conference facility
Architecture, Cultural Heritage, Interior Design
Building Preservation & Restoration, Culture, Hotels & Meetings
Client: Jönköping University & HÖFAB
Location: Jönköping
Project year: 2014–2015
Project type: Conference facility
Developer: Högskolefastigheter i Jönköping AB
Photographer: Patrik Svedberg

On a rise along the eastern shore of Munksjön stands Mariedal – a stately merchant’s villa from the 1850s, today used as a conference facility by Jönköping University. When the time came to refurbish the premises, the ambition was to create an inspiring environment for contemporary needs while carefully preserving and accentuating the building’s historic qualities.

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.

Contact person

Matt Patterson

+46 36 440 90 81

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