Client:Available for purchase via Nola Industrier AB
Assignment year:
2023
Producer:
Nola Industrier AB
How many times have you had to rely on sheer arm strength to rearrange outdoor furniture on your terrace or in the yard? Forget about it with our JOIN furniture series. Moving and rearranging should be as easy as it is fun to spend time outdoors.
JOIN, an outdoor furniture series, was conceived by landscape architect Hannah Marshall at Tengbom in collaboration with product designer Mathieu Gustafsson. Nola Industrier AB further developed and refined the series, which became available for purchase in fall 2023. JOIN celebrates flexibility, functionality, and aesthetics, proving that outdoor spaces can be as dynamic as they are stylish.
Flexibility and functionality – combine as you like
Perfect for terraces, patios, and courtyards, the series includes benches, tables, side tables, stools in multiple sizes, and hanging tabletops that attach to the planter at two different heights to match table levels. The green planter boxes on wheels work as dividers or standalone islands. The idea is to combine series elements in countless ways, tailored to various events, needs, and spaces. Flexibility, adaptability, and function take center stage – the only limitation is your imagination.
Roll, rearrange, relax
Practicing what we preach: JOIN at Tengbom’s terrace
The idea for the JOIN series originated from a need for functional, attractive outdoor furniture for Tengbom’s former Stockholm office’s rooftop terrace on Katarinavägen. When we relocated to Vasastan, the furniture naturally came along to enhance our new courtyard. Sometimes we need a large setup for an event, other times fewer pieces for a more private lunch. A table can be a table, or it might function as an exhibition piece. A stool might serve as seating or as a smaller serving table.
Designed for change
Flexibility is at the heart of JOIN, along with simplicity and lightness. The pieces feature lightweight constructions, making them easy to rearrange as needed. Each component has adjustable feet, ensuring stable placement even on uneven surfaces. Made from high-quality, durable steel with surfaces of wood (oak) and sheet metal, the planters are crafted from aluminum. Perforated patterns on the metal surfaces add a playful touch and create a cohesive aesthetic across the series. The result is a warm, inviting collection that feels equal parts robust and approachable.
Natural power and creative energy were the key concepts behind E.ON’s new Nordic headquarters in Malmö. Tengbom designed the interiors, creating a space that takes employees and visitors on a journey through Sweden’s diverse landscapes.
Starting with open fields and warm coastal cliffs energized by the sea, the journey ascends through lush forests, sparkling streams, and ends in the stark beauty of mountainous terrain, adorned with vibrant mosses, lichens, and rushing waterfalls. Materials and textures range from warm and soft to cool and austere.
“The concept of natural power guided the entire design process. Sustainability and reuse have been a red thread throughout,” says Frida Axelsson, Tengbom’s design lead and interior architect for the project. “We focused on materials’ life cycles and production methods, ensuring timeless and adaptable design.”
E.ON’s commitment to sustainability resonates in the physical environment.
“Our ambitions for sustainability have been high from the start,” explains Linda Palac, E.ON’s project manager. “Our goal was to reuse as much furniture as possible. It’s been challenging but rewarding. Our office is vibrant, seamlessly integrating old furniture with new, sustainable elements.”
“Our goal was to reuse as much furniture as possible”
Linda Palac, E.ON’s project manager
Natural power for a sustainable future
E.ON’s mission is to innovate and provide smart energy solutions, contributing to a sustainable society. Their new office supports this goal. Located in Nyhamnen, Malmö, near the central station, the building is set to achieve WELL Building Standard Platinum (Core & Shell and Tenant), emphasizing health and well-being, and BREEAM Outstanding, the highest standard for sustainable construction.
Almost all loose furnishings are reused, minimizing environmental impact. Curtains, upholstery, and carpets are made from recycled materials.
A spatial journey across swedish landscapes
The journey begins in the basement with rocky foundations, ascending to sunlit oat fields on the entrance floor. Subsequent levels feature coastal cliffs, airy forests, deep woods with mountain views, and culminate in a sparkling mountain peak at the top.
“We created distinct forms and palettes for each level, encouraging exploration,” says Frida. “The variation aids navigation in this large building, making each floor unique yet cohesive.”
Barista bar with a pop of raspberry
At the entrance, a reception area greets visitors with a five-meter-high wall of custom wooden slats and a light-playing wallpaper inspired by sunflower seeds. On the third floor, a striking barista bar stands out with a raspberry-colored front made of hand-cast, backlit glass spheres from Småland.
“Every detail is deliberate,” says Frida. “We designed the space for coffee breaks and spontaneous meetings, balancing closed and open areas while maintaining sightlines through the thoroughfare.”
Task or mood-based rooms
The office fosters an activity-based work environment, supporting 1,800 employees with diverse needs. Quiet zones, phone booths, and meeting rooms ensure adaptability.
“The office is a space for lively discussions, focus, and relaxation,” says Maeva Chardon, Tengbom’s lead architect. “Movement, nature views, and varied textures promote well-being, aligning with WELL criteria.”
Custom fixtures and sustainability
Tengbom designed all fixed furnishings, from benches to lockers, and collaborated with local joineries for production. Many elements are unique to this office, combining innovation with sustainability.
Awards och recognitions:
Nominated for the Borås City Urban Design Award 2022
Photographer:
Åke E:son Lindman
It began with a simple sketch amidst fierce international competition, and the rest is history, and the future. Originally built in 1939 as Folkets Hus in Borås, the building was refined by Tengbom and reopened in 2018 as Borås Congress – a modern conference facility that preserves the values of its past.
Following a challenging prequalification process involving 60 architectural firms from around the world, Tengbom advanced to an invited design competition. The battle for Borås Congress had begun in earnest, and it was time to flex some muscles – or was it? Amidst advanced visualizations and meticulously packaged concepts, a simple hand sketch by Bo Karlberg stood out. In 2012, it became clear that the assignment was ours.
We were entrusted with the project because we understood both the architecture and the business.
“The proposal focused on developing a state-of-the-art conference facility for the entire region, restoring Gunnar Nilsson’s modernist entrance motif, and maintaining the building’s role as a community gathering place in Borås,” Bo explains.
Accessible and flexible for all types of meetings
While the starting point for the project was preservation, the goal was to create a modern meeting place. Today, Borås Congress is one of the few Swedish buildings specifically designed for meetings, as opposed to many concert halls and arenas across the country.
The congress center offers spaces for meetings both large and small. Corporate conferences, concerts, or a coffee with friends—there’s something here for everyone.
The congress center offers spaces for meetings both large and small. Corporate conferences, concerts, or a coffee with friends—there’s something here for everyone.
The congress center offers spaces for meetings both large and small. Corporate conferences, concerts, or a coffee with friends—there’s something here for everyone.
The congress center offers spaces for meetings both large and small. Corporate conferences, concerts, or a coffee with friends—there’s something here for everyone.
The facility offers everything from intimate rooms for small gatherings to larger conference spaces for up to 1,000 guests. The building’s character is present throughout, as are its newfound flexibility and accessibility. The number of levels in the block was reduced from 36 to just 7 (!), and the floors were designed to allow for multiple events of different kinds to occur simultaneously.
Borås Congress – a bridge between past and present
The new congress building spans an entire block across four volumes. Along Österlånggatan, Gunnar Nilsson’s bold entrance motif – carefully restored from layers of 1980s cladding – once again aligns with the iconic functionalist buildings of Borås.
Along Allégatan, the architecture adopts a more subdued and scaled-down character. In contrast, the new performance and hall volume, with its main entrance facing Robert Nilsson’s Place, makes a bold impression. Its shimmering facade of gold-anodized expanded metal stands out against a deep blue backdrop.
At the transition between old and new lies the glass wedge housing the congress foyer. Here, stucco lustro, an ancient Italian marbleizing technique, meets ultramodern pre-printed glass railings. The result is a meeting place that is both exciting and symbolic.
“It’s a powerful feeling to see visitors gathering and connecting here today,” Bo concludes. “That has always been the goal of the project for nearly a decade: the meeting of people.”
“Less is more” was never the guiding principle for the global real estate advisory firm Croisette when designing their new Malmö headquarters. Instead, the ambition was to push boundaries, resulting in a bold interior concept for the Croisette Tower developed by Tengbom.
“It’s rare for the client to want to challenge conventions more than we do. It made the project incredibly fun,” says Josefin Klein, lead architect and office manager at Tengbom Malmö. “We’ve broken almost every classical interior design rule for this assignment.”
A concept built on power pink
The design concept, aptly named “Power Pink Please,” reflects Croisette’s pioneering and expanding business. The word “Power” embodies their leadership, while “Pink” is an obvious nod to the company’s visual identity – a colour representing playfulness and boldness. And “Please”?
“‘Please’ reflects the humility Croisette brings to their projects and partnerships,” explains Josefin. “They emphasize mutual collaboration in all they do.”
Breaking industry norms
Croisette Real Estate Partner is a trusted property advisor operating in Sweden, Iceland, Denmark, and Finland, with their global headquarters in Malmö. The building housing their offices, Croisette Tower in Hyllie, is owned by JöLa Invest AB. Croisette not only leases the top floor—spanning 830 square meters—but also manages the building’s leases.
A daring mix of colour and sustainability.
The new office features a spectacular blend of pink hues, repurposed furniture, and inventive solutions. A champagne cooler adds a touch of exclusivity. Because, why not? By reusing as much furniture as possible from their former office, Croisette has demonstrated that sustainability and bold design can coexist.
Not your standard kitchenette
In the kitchen, reused sofas, tables, and chairs pair with a central island that discreetly integrates microwaves and refrigerators. The kitchen floor is covered in experimental herringbone parquet, made by Bjelin, in a vibrant pink pattern. Each piece is individually stained in six shades of pink. The kitchen serves as the heart of the workplace and doubles as an event space for clients.
A public and a private section
The office ceiling is, of course, pink. In the work areas, a translucent stretch metal covers the ceiling. Other sections feature suspended ceilings made of wood wool, a material available in any colour. The team spray-painted the remaining ceiling installations in the same shade. A more secluded office section features wall-to-wall carpeting. Guess the colour? One meeting room stands out with a special ceiling where textile installations, resembling ties, hang in varying lengths and shades.
Reused interior design
The office isn’t just pink – it’s also sustainable. For this project, Croisette reused as much furniture as possible from their previous office. The chosen materials are durable and easy to maintain. For Croisette, taking responsibility for environmental impact is crucial, proving that it’s possible to create an outstanding workplace with minimal waste.
“We want to show that we are a company unafraid to stand out. Our office reflects our passion, creativity, and vision. I also based the concept on a theory that pink symbolizes limitless possibilities, which I think is a perfect representation of the company. Nothing has been left to chance, and we hope our office will inspire both clients and colleagues in the industry,” says Per Svensson, CEO and Founder of Croisette.
The office made it to the finals in the Sweden’s Most Beautiful Office 2023 competition, organized by Lokalnytt, Fastighetssverige, and Nordic Property News. Croisette moved into their new office in May 2023.
Jet-lagged and exhausted, you check into an airport hotel. Whatever expectations you may have, if you’re staying at Clarion Hotel Helsinki Airport, you’re stepping into a world where modern Scandinavian design meets Asian mystique. Here, Japanese carp and Finnish perch share space. With a bold and distinctive interior concept, the goal was to make Finland’s largest hotel anything but “a necessary stop on the journey.”
Helsinki Airport is often nicknamed “Gateway to Asia,” with over 80 direct flights to Asian destinations weekly. The hotel’s architecture reflects Scandinavian rhythm and minimalist aesthetics, with crisp and clean lines. Inside, however, it’s anything but minimalist.
“You won’t find a single white wall in the hotel,” says Claes Pereswetoff-Morath, the lead architect at Tengbom.
A memorable stay
The Clarion Hotel Helsinki Airport is Finland’s largest hotel, conveniently connected to the terminal via an indoor walkway and just steps away from airport check-in counters. A quick 30-minute commute connects you to Helsinki city center via public transport. The hotel boasts a state-of-the-art conference center, a spa, and a top-floor restaurant offering sweeping views of the runways.
“What does a traveler expect from an airport hotel? That question was at the forefront of our minds throughout the project,” shares Claes.
We wanted to create a cozy oasis amidst terminals, parking garages, and logistics buildings.
Japanese carp and Finnish pike
Airport hotels are often perceived as transient places where one stays only due to inconvenient flight times, and the memory of the stay fades quickly. But Clarion Hotel Helsinki Airport is a destination in its own right, offering surprises in every room.
“Scandinavia meets Asia in a blend of clean, modern Scandinavian design and classic Asian aesthetics,” Claes explains. The concept, dubbed JAPANDI, is embodied by the iconic koi carp and Finland’s national fish, the perch.
You can watch a plane take off and disappear into the clouds on the horizon.
Breakfast under Japanese maple trees
The hotel’s restaurants and bars feature robust materials such as stone floors, solid wood details, and Scandinavian design furniture, creating a welcoming atmosphere. Combining matte and glossy textures, dark and light tones, the design achieves a balance of exclusivity and inclusiveness.
“Designing a breakfast restaurant the size of a handball court in a hotel with 505 rooms, while ensuring it feels intimate and inviting at 4 a.m. when breakfast starts, was a challenge”.
Claes Morath
Daylight filters through four skylights in the breakfast hall, casting magical light on the 5-meter-tall Japanese maple trees amid the morning rush. Varied seating arrangements, pendant lights, and upholstered furniture create a dynamic setting for social interactions.
Plane-spotting on the rooftop terrace
The spa and wellness area provides a serene retreat. Guests can also enjoy a courtyard terrace with a heated pool, perfect for experiencing a Finnish winter.
“The hotel offers a relaxing spa, a rooftop restaurant, and a terrace bar with stunning views of the runways,” Claes says. “You can watch a plane take off and disappear into the clouds on the horizon.”
Tech meets tradition
The hotel’s guest rooms exude intimacy, with genuine wooden floors and earthy tones for a cozy feel. Smart solutions integrate service functions into the interior, optimizing the relatively small standard rooms.
Clarion Hotel Helsinki Airport also features a high-tech conference facility with 20 meeting rooms and a congress hall accommodating over 1,000 attendees. The luxurious wool carpets contribute to a soft acoustic environment, complementing the contrast between advanced technology and plush materials.
“Every corner of the hotel is designed to offer a holistic experience. Guests should leave with a memorable impression and a strong desire to return,” hopes Claes.
Gross area:
Approximately 14,000 sqm, including 2,000 sqm of renovation
Photographer:
Felix Gerlach
The former fire station in Midsommarkransen, built in the early 1940s, has been converted into a school for over 1,000 students. The building maintains a contemporary look, drawing inspiration from the fire station’s original architecture while emphasizing its function as a public building. Welcome to Midsommarkransen Elementary School.
Tengbom’s assignment was to integrate the heritage-protected buildings with a modern structure, balancing aesthetics and functionality.
“We solved the equation by placing the five-storey school building behind the preserved wagon hall of the old fire station,” explains Pontus Eriksson, lead architect. “Meanwhile, we transformed the wagon hall into a school canteen with a preschool class above, seamlessly connected to the new main building.”
In this way, the wagon hall retains its historically significant facade as a backdrop at the Bäckvägen-Tellusborgsvägen intersection. The adjacent administration building has also been carefully restored.
High functionality while preserving nature
The new rectangular structure consolidates the school’s spaces across five compact floors. This design preserves much of the natural site, including a centuries-old oak tree and a neighboring wooded area. The area behind the school building has been transformed into a schoolyard that borders the Enbacken Park, complete with natural walking and cycling paths. The connection between these two areas enhances the neighborhood’s appeal for both the public and students, fostering shared use of the schoolyard and park.
Illustration of the school and schoolyard
Thoughtful material choices reflecting historical elements
The fire station’s cultural buildings are classified as green-protected, requiring consultation with a conservation officer. Tengbom’s task was to design a contemporary building that underscores its significant function within the community. But also while respecting the original architecture.
The preserved structures have been meticulously restored using original materials such as slate, brick, and wood. The new school building complements these with modern materials in a harmonious colour palette.
“The material and colour choices for the new building draw inspiration from the fire station’s 1940s origins. We also prioritized robust and durable materials like concrete, aluminum, and wood to meet the school’s demands for wear-resistant finishes”.
Pontus Eriksson
A public building designed to stand out
The light sand-coloured concrete facade harmonizes with the surrounding buildings. Parts of the facade feature a bold, undulating relief pattern, lending the structure character and creating dynamic shadows that shift with the angle of the sunlight.
White concrete frames highlight the two entrances, positioned at opposite corners of the building. Their design draws inspiration from the lower sections of the wagon hall. The fifth floor features a lightweight structure clad in light bronze-coloured aluminum. It serves as a creative cluster for all arts-related subjects.
The roof includes a terrace with a pedagogical outdoor space. Aluminum-framed windows with deep relief profiles add an aesthetic touch while providing sun shading.
In January 2023, the school welcomed its first students.
Awards and recognitions
Midsommarkransen Elementary School received a ‘Highly Commended’ distinction in the Inside Education category at the World Architecture Festival 2024. The project was also a finalist for Stockholm Building of the Year 2023
A curious architect is a good architect. With this in mind Tengbom’s Stockholm office left our home near Slussen after many years to explore and experience one of Stockholm’s most experimental and inspiring urban development projects: Hagastaden. In an old mineral factory from 1934, we built our pink dream.
Photo: Felix GerlachPhoto: Felix Gerlach
The Tengbom-branded move from the iconic Glass House on Katarinavägen by Slussen left for Hagastaden on April 1, 2023. On the address labels: Hälsingegatan 49. Before you have the chance to ask why, we give you the answer – change and renewal are good for creativity. And as architects, we need both creativity and insights into how cityscapes (and the people in those environments) change. The aftermath of the pandemic had also changed the way we work and created new needs for our staff.
“Hagastaden’s diverse architecture, many green areas, and wide range of services create a creative and vibrant environment for us to work, experiment, and develop together with our customers and partners,” says Practise Director Mark Humphreys.
Photo: Felix Gerlach
Photo: Emil Fagander
Photo: Felix gerlach
New growth rings but the same brick
Many buildings in Hagastaden take us back to the industrialism of the 1930s. For more than 40 years, the red brick-clad building, the Mineral Factory, housed Apotekarnes mineral water production. Through a careful transformation from industry to office, the industrial feel of the building lives on to this day. From the courtyard you can clearly see the intersection of the historic factory section and the modern glass extension. Here, our employees have a green oasis for coffee, lunch, and refreshing meetings – furnished with Tengbom-designed outdoor furniture.
An office that breathes freedom and optimism
Photo: Felix Gerlach
Photo: Emil Fagander
Photo: Felix Gerlach
Photo: Emil Fagander
Spatial discovery in pink
Thanks to a flexible floor plan with many possibilities, we were able to create a functional, creative, and stimulating work environment for our employees. The spatial journey starts at the entrance. Here, the visitor is greeted by a welcoming and dynamic “Arena” with inspiration areas, inviting touchdown workstations, sofa groups, ping pong tables, lunch tables, an open kitchen, and a library. Instead of a traditional reception, we have a mobile host who welcomes and guides our guests. It is more like an integrated part of the flexible workspaces. The Arena also works well for larger events.
“From the Arena, you can see right into the modelling workshop, a large wooden pavilion with impressive shop windows. The further into the premises you go, the more surprises you encounter. Walking through our office should be a bit of a discovery tour,” continues Mark.
Photo: Felix GerlachPhoto: Felix Gerlach
A 1200 square meter spray-painted pink ceiling connects many of the different parts of the office. The colour lies densely over pipe and ceiling installations, leaving clear traces of the former factory. The pink creates an optimistic, soft, and warm feeling that brings life and builds identity.
The Activity guides
The office is adapted to an activity-based work approach and divided into zones that offer rooms and environments for all types of work. The workstationes are flexible and allow for different types of grouping and ways of working at different times. We simply let the needs of the day or the task to guide us. Or the mood, for that matter.
Photo: Felix Gerlach
“There is a room for every moment, task, and mood. When I want to work a bit secluded, I hang out in the niche of the wooden pavilion; when I need to brainstorm with my colleagues, I sit down in the open-plan office. The sofa groups work well for more relaxed meetings, and the many small team rooms facilitate our digital-physical way of working,” says our architect Pernille Andersen.
Gym? Yes, of course. It is fully equipped and ready to welcome fitness enthusiasts both during and outside working hours.
Photo: Felix Gerlach
Be creative!
Photo: Felix Gerlach
Our new office should not be perceived as tidy but rather as a living and experimental workshop. A natural meeting place that breathes freedom and creativity. An encouraging and permissive hub that prioritizes co-creation. In common areas, we share what is on our drawing boards here and now through sketches, models, material and colour samples, and more. In an increasingly digitized work environment, physical experiences are becoming more important. Being able to touch and feel.
In an increasingly digitized work environment, physical experiences become even more important. Being able to touch and feel.
“We want our employees to be encouraged to try something new, to be inspired, to have new ideas, and the opportunity to experiment – it is a crucial foundation in our work as architects. That’s why we showcase what we are working on and our collective intelligence even more,” says Mark.
Photo: Felix Gerlach
Close collaborations yield good results
Our new office is the result of good collaborations, especially with Atrium Ljungberg and TL Bygg.
“We worked as a team with Atrium Ljungberg and TL Bygg, who were very responsive to our needs. Thanks to that, we got maximum value out of the existing framework,” says Mark.
Tengbom’s environmentally friendly preschool concept is behind three new preschools in Varberg. Wood, playful colours and proximity to the outdoors will give the children a positive experience of nature, even inside. Cherries, lingonberries and butterflies inspired the colour palette, which was chosen based on research.
The preschools Stenen in Tvååker, Klapperstenen in Breared and Bua Preschool are all the result of the preschool concept that Tengbom developed with the idea that it should be possible to apply and adapt to different locations. The design concept is based on the vision “in a forest, on a stone,” and the aim is for users to experience natural elements and colours from the outdoors even while inside the preschools.
“All of these preschools are close to nature and surrounded by green areas. They should blend in with their surroundings naturally,” explains Amanda Karlberg, who was the designer on the project at Tengbom. “Working with a scalable concept for preschools is a smart and sustainable approach. These three schools differ slightly, but incorporate the same basic concept of nature and wood as a material.
“We’re really happy with our beautiful, inspiring new preschool,” says Linda Persson, principal at the Stenen preschool. “The teachers, children and administrative staff all feel good in the space. We like the light, the high ceilings and the colours. The school’s floorplan really allows teachers to teach in a varied and interesting way. We also have great opportunities to split the kids into smaller groups, which is a winning concept of our teaching. Because each home area has several rooms, we also have the opportunity to use and enjoy inspiring, adapted and changing learning environments. The focus and materials in a room can change frequently.”
Visible wooden framework
One of the project goals was to build with wood using an economical and environmentally friendly approach. Two of the preschools are built on a wooden framework and wood appears throughout both the interior and exterior. Wood is also a highly tactile material – the kids can see it, feel it and experience it. The result harmonizes with the calm and playful colour palette that is reminiscent of the forest.
“Building with wood feels especially right for a preschool. We know that it’s beneficial for well-being to be in wooden buildings and we wanted the kids to experience that”.
Amanda Karlberg
Preschool concept: outdoor naptime
Time spent outdoors is an important part of being in preschool. Each school has a freestanding pergola – an outdoor space made with wooden slats. The pergola provides shelter from the sun in the yard and has the same rural-inspired design as the preschool building, but at a child’s scale. The wooden slats and natural setting call to mind a retreat or a spa. As light falls through the slats, it casts shadows that enhance the atmosphere and bring vibrancy to the yard. The children and the teachers play here, and naptime also takes place outside on the patio.
“Before naptime at the preschool, the children and teachers gather mattresses and blankets from a heated room nearby,” says Amanda. “The children rest or sleep outdoors every day. This is also consistent with the well-being concept that we wanted to convey.”
Nature’s colour palette
The visual design concept inspired by stones and the forest is carried indoors through the colour palette, which offers a nod to nature. Instead of the frequently used palette of whites on preschool walls, the colour scheme in this preschool concept incorporates soft and natural hues. The idea comes from research on colour theory, with inspiration from a blossoming summer meadow. Cherries, lingonberries and butterflies are among the colourful details that provide contrast to the even greenery of the forest or the gray hues of the mountains.
“We don’t have bright colours all over the place, but rather a colourful balance that makes people feel good. It stimulates the brain and keeps spirits high,” explains Amanda. “Kids and adults alike need colour.”
The preschool rooms all put different educational activities in focus. There is a construction room, a sensory room and a studio – each with its own colour scheme.
“Imagine a winter landscape where everything is black, white and gray,” continues Amanda. “In that setting, bold colours would be a warning to the brain. I think our colour concepts might have initially been perceived as too bright and dominant, but the result is far from loud or alarming. It feels soft and warm and works incredibly well with the wood that’s also visible inside.”
Preschool concept: creative and flexible yards
The preschools also have large, varied and creative yards outside, with playground equipment for all ages. The spaces in the yard can be delineated and scaled up or down to give the younger children their own area.
“We’re feeling at home now that the new preschool has been operating for a year and a half,” says Linda Persson. “We all love it and we’re very proud of our preschool. That includes the building and the teaching that we do here!”
For the past five years, property company Hemsö´s regional office have been situated at the old Kockumskvarter block in Malmö. But as the team expanded, they outgrew their premises. Right? Actually, no! Our solution was a new (and clever!) interior design concept.
When the Hemsö regional office in Malmö went from 10 to 16 employees, growing pains set in. The office needed more space for its new staff members. But bearing Hemsö’s core values in mind – such as added value, sustainability and a long-term approach – Tengbom’s team thought twice. Instead, we presented a proposal for which the existing premises, with a minor 45 m² addition from next door, would be ideal to adapt for double the amount of staff.
A meeting place for community, innovation, security and well-being.
“The new office has given us a real boost,” says Henrik Orup, property manager at Hemsö’s regional office. “Tengbom helped us stay in our current premises, so we didn’t have to move – and we’re thrilled about that solution.”
And, of course, it’s also good for the landlord, Vasakronan, to be able to keep their tenant in the property.
Attracting employees with inspiration
“We saw plenty of opportunities for reuse, not only in the interior design and materials, but in the space itself,” says Maeva Chardon, lead architect for the assignment and interior design architect at Tengbom.
Meanwhile, Hemsö was clear that their office ought to be more than just desks. It should be more rewarding to go into the office than to work from home in terms of inspiration, social experiences and meetings with colleagues. But focused work without disruptions should also be possible.
Black box – coming together in an industrial-inspired kitchen
Hemsö’s regional office is a small gable space with windows facing in three directions, offering views of the water and the old industrial area. The design concept is based around the idea of a social hub in the middle of the premises. A black box with a deep wall now contains a spacious black kitchen with an industrial feel on one side, and shelving, seating niches and storage on the other. The kitchen offers space to socialize, including a new area with a variety of seating options around dining tables, tall tables and risers. Parties, film screenings and presentations can all be held here.
“The black box is the heart of the space, and its pulse can be felt right from the entrance. The big black kitchen is intriguing, with its open false ceiling and visible installations painted black. You can see the Jungle room in the background, with its hanging plants,” says Maeva.
A room to suit the mood
A path leads from the core through the premises to the various work areas and rooms. The path – which is a literal path on the floor in a greige, gravel-like colour – guides visitors through the office space to its different areas. You can go to the Jungle, a room for creativity where plants climb over the desks and the walls are covered in wood paneling. You might also visit the Ocean, a conference room with views of the sea and bubble-like pendant fixtures. The beige hue of the Beach is reminiscent of a sandy shore, making the local Ribban beach feel very close indeed. In this space, more focused meetings can be held. If you want to work in a more open space, the Meadow is a cozy and social work setting with flooring made of reused green carpet tiles.
“The concept is based on the idea of entering the office through the more social and active zone. The further into the office you get along the path, the more you can choose between individual workspaces and meeting rooms for focus or recovery”.
Maeva Chardon
Employees can find a room for every mood and task at the Hemsö´s regional office.
We replaced the archive room in the black core with two smaller meeting rooms. Each includes seating niches and glass panels facing the open office space. In addition, we added two focus rooms for individual work — something the old office lacked.
“Our office isn’t just stylish now; it’s also an inspiring workplace that you’re happy to go to,” says Henrik Orup, Hemsö. “The new office truly became a meeting place for community, innovation, security and well-being. We see it as a storefront that elevates the Hemsö brand.”
Reused and circular materials
At Hemsö’s regional office in Malmö, the team made sure nothing was discarded unnecessarily. They repurposed certain doors and glass panels for the meeting rooms. In other spaces, they kept the existing carpet tiles. They also brought desks, office chairs, meeting tables, and several conference chairs from the old office.
“The new materials all feature some form of circularity,” explains Maeva. “For example, the new carpet tiles are made of recycled PET bottles. Nothing should be thrown away if it can be reused. The finished office is really different from what it used to be. In a very positive way!”
Partners:
Region Skåne, Trafikverket, Vellinge kommun, Sweco, Edge (landskap)
Photography:
Mads Frederik
A complex traffic flow, road noise and the absence of a safe space for waiting travelers call for creativity and clever algorithms. One side of the E6 now has a travel center spliced down the middle by an 80-meter-long, six-meter-tall and distinctive sound barrier. On the other side of the road, fields billow in the wind. Here is Vellinge Travel Center.
To avoid sound leakage, the noise barrier over the Vellinge travel center is completely intact. It cuts right through the station building, tightly shaped around the body of the building and then flows together with the landscape.
Vellinge Ängar is one of the municipality’s biggest public transport hubs, located directly beside the E6, between Malmö and Trelleborg. Thousands of commuters pass through daily, many in need of a safe and accessible travel center. This is a need that will grow as the area is developed with new homes adjacent to the recently built entry square. Cyclists can now park their bikes under a roof and continue their commute by bus. Meanwhile, those who arrive to the commuter parking lot by electric car now have access to charging stations.
A particular challenge was to keep the acoustic sound barrier intact, to avoid sound leakage. That’s why the building itself is divided, with a waiting area directly through the sound barrier. The barrier is tightly draped around the building. Together, they form a unit where the building is subordinate to the barrier, at the landscape level.
When Tengbom developed the travel center and the sound barrier, focus was placed on the experience from both the station square and from the road.
Through parametric design, a construction solution emerged that made it possible to let wood slats in organowood form a vivid spectrum of shades. The rays from the sun now fall differently depending on the time of day and the season.
A backdrop-like sound barrier
The sound barrier runs directly over the station roof and plays a key role in the travel center. It welcomes travelers inside while blocking noise from the road. Using parametric design, where algorithms guide construction, the team developed a solution with OrganoWood battens. The battens create a vibrant spectrum of hues. Their distance and placement vary in three unique dimensions, allowing sunlight to fall differently depending on the time of day and season. Some sections of the sound barrier are transparent, with glass behind the battens. This design lets light into the square and offers views across the fields. The division into clear sections forms a stylized interpretation of the surrounding landscape.
Durable but natural materials characterize the Vellinge travel center. Slate on facade and waiting hall floor. The interior is yellow-orange as a contrast to the other natural materials.
“Getting to help create something that changes and improves the environment for thousands of people every day is rewarding,” says Torbjörn Håkansson, lead architect for the assignment. “The combination of major traffic flows, accessibility and striking design was an exciting challenge.”
A safe, 200 square-meter station
The station entrance facing the road acts as a beacon, signaling the new neighborhood emerging beyond the barrier. Inside, the waiting area feels open and safe, with no corners to close visitors in.Travelers can take shelter from the wind and rain. They can also use Wi-Fi from the local transport operator, visit the restroom, or enjoy a coffee at the café. Outside, a playground offers a safe and fun space for little ones, making the wait for the bus more enjoyable.
Elegant and natural materials
The exterior is made of slate, a durable and graffiti-proof material. The floor in the waiting area is also made of slate. The colours and signs inside are a nod to the local operator’s graphic profile, with a yellow-orange palette providing contrast next to the natural materials. The ceiling and the interior’s outer walls are covered in natural-colour wood wool tiles, interspersed with lacquered ash sofas. The ceiling fixtures bring nature into the space while providing nice acoustics, with their soft wool foliage.
“The station is a very positive addition to Vellinge,” says Martina Ljung, head of planning and development at Vellinge Municipality. The E6 is very exposed to weather, so people appreciate being able to find shelter.”
Here, waiting should become an experience. Both from inside the station building and from outside the motorway and also the adjacent square.
