As part of the commission to give the entire Clarion Hotel Amaranten in Stockholm a new identity, we developed the interior concept for the new restaurant Kitchen & Table. Here you encounter a wonderfully creative mix of flavours and cultures in a vibrant, bustling and relaxed environment.
Kitchen & Table is run by the Swedish master chef Marcus Samuelsson. The inspiration for the restaurant concept stems from Samuelsson’s own background and his present life in Manhattan. Culinary experiences from many different international kitchens, created with local Swedish ingredients, offer a distinctly unique experience further enhanced by the atmosphere.
With the starting point “Africa meets grandmother”, we truly wanted to embrace the multicultural blend also within the interior concept.
Africa + grandmother Helga + New York = true
Marcus Samuelsson grew up in Sweden but has his roots in Africa. With the starting point “Africa meets grandmother”, we truly wanted to embrace the multicultural blend also within the interior concept. The environment is warm and rich in detail, with many specially designed features, including tables with African-inspired patterns.
With a little flexibility, you get far
Restaurant projects often have a short timeline, as our work progresses in parallel with the development of the premises. This was also the case at Kitchen & Table, where we began in January 2014 and the restaurant was ready for its opening already in May 2014.
We often encounter unexpected challenges, which we find creative ways to resolve together with the client and suppliers as we go.
Amaranten is a building from the 1960s, with old drawings that did not always prove entirely accurate. The large concrete fan room above the bar and kitchen area is one example. It appeared when we opened up the ceiling and instead became a striking, defining feature in the environment. Two columns that turned out to contain nothing but air were removed to make way for a large community table, reinforcing the relaxed atmosphere.
Closer to Malmö than to Stockholm?
Since the restaurant on Kungsholmen was inaugurated, we have also developed the concept for Kitchen & Table at the new Clarion Hotel & Congress Malmö Live. There we have also created a new restaurant concept, Eatery Social Taquería.
A magical atmosphere that sends shivers down your spine
Interior Design
Restaurants
Client:Christopher Ellertsson, Lukas Moderato, Robin Moderato
Location:
Gustavs Adolfs Torg, Stockholm
Year:
2015
Project type:
Restaurant
Competences:
Interior & Design, Hotel & Restaurant
In magnificent premises opposite the Royal Opera on Gustavs Adolfs Torg lies Carousel, a new Stockholm restaurant. Since its opening, the restaurant, its cuisine, and the captivating atmosphere have all drawn considerable attention.
“It is an atmosphere so magical that it sends shivers down your spine.”
This was how Viggo Cavling described Carousel in his review for SVD Perfect Guide. The lively yet relaxed setting has breathed new life into both the premises and the historic surroundings of Gustavs Adolfs Torg. Behind Carousel stand restaurateurs Christopher Ellertsson, and Lukas and Robin Moderato. Robin is part of the trio behind Vassa Eggen and Boquería – popular Stockholm restaurants for which we also developed the interior concepts.
Close collaboration with the restaurateurs
As before, we worked closely with the restaurateurs to shape the concept for Carousel, guided by their personal vision. Through an engaging and efficient design process, we were able to reuse a large portion of both the fixed and loose furnishings.
An old feature became a colourful carousel
Our aim was to create an environment that both embraced the building’s historic character and brought a fresh vibrancy to the area. Old and new, solid materials and rich detailing in an inspiring blend.
The characteristic carousel canopy above a chairtable half a level up in the restaurant was inspired by an existing ceiling recess, a remnant from when the premises housed Naglo, the previous restaurant. The carousel has since become a natural focal point – and lent its name to the entire venue. It is always rewarding to work with existing features and give them new – and sometimes unexpected – life.
Art at Carousel adds to the atmosphere
Since opening, Carousel has maintained a clear ambition to let its environment evolve continuously by exhibiting artworks from various artists and galleries. A passion for art has been part of the project from the start and remains a cornerstone of our concept – we recognised early on the potential of art to elevate a space. For this reason, we worked carefully with the wall surfaces and exhibition areas, ensuring they possessed their own character while still serving as a subtle backdrop that highlights the artworks.
The initiative is a true win-win: it provides a platform for artists to reach a wider audience while enriching the atmosphere at Carousel. Each new piece adds a fresh dimension to the space, keeping the environment vibrant and inspiring for both visitors and staff. It creates an experience that always feels current while supporting and showcasing creative talent.
Awards:
Diploma for Good Building Conservation, Jönköping Urban Design Prize
Developer and partners:
Huskvarna Hembygdsförening & Pålssons Bygg
Photographer:
Jansin & Hammarling
Halfway along the E4 motorway between Stockholm and Malmö lies the classic rest stop Kroatorpet, with roots dating back to the 18th century. In a bold initiative by Huskvarna Hembygdsförening, we have updated the building with a new restaurant section, improving both the staff’s work environment and the guest flow.
Kroatorpet originally dates from the 18th century. When the motorway was built in the 1960s, it was moved a few hundred meters from its original location and became a coffee cottage for passing travelers and local Huskvarna residents. Today, it houses Landhs konditori, which serves both motorists and locals with meals and pastries.
“It was time for an upgrade.”
Anna Larsson, architect at Tengbom in Jönköping.
“While carefully preserving the original buildings, we’ve improved the staff’s work environment and the flow for guests. The new extension with glass walls functions both as a barrier to the motorway and as an opening toward Huskvarna’s most beautiful feature. The view over Lake Vättern.”
The new dining room offers views — free from motorway noise
Because the two older main buildings were to be preserved, the most significant change took place between them. Here, a completely new restaurant section now connects the buildings, with a transparent dining room that captures the view while shielding against noise. Even outdoor café guests are now protected from motorway sounds thanks to the new section. This improvement makes it possible to host more events during the warmer months.
“We worked with wood interiors to retain the cozy and warm atmosphere, using white-stained wooden slats, panels, and glulam beams,” says architect Håkan Albeman. “The exterior façades of the older houses remain visible as interior walls. And despite the large glass surfaces, we managed to create a good acoustic environment.”
We love courageous investments
Local collaborations
Several local companies were involved in the transformation. The furniture, for example, comes from Karl Andersson & Söner’s furniture factory, located just a few minutes’ walk from Kroatorpet.
“The new dining hall has created a space that gives the business an entirely different economic foundation,” says Anna. “It was a courageous investment by the local heritage association, and now we can attract many more visitors. Many are travelers passing by, but we’ve also managed to strengthen an important meeting place for us Huskvarna residents.”
Kroatorpet awarded for building conservation
The design of the new section complements the older buildings. While it is clearly a modern addition, the gabled roof and classic Småland wooden construction—with its fine proportions—enhance the original houses and harmonize with the rich cultural setting.
In 2022, the city of Jönköping awarded the renovation of Kroatorpet the Urban Design Prize. The jury selected it in the category “Good Building Conservation.”
At the Persian restaurant Coup d’état, raw and refined elements were fused for a peaceful coup. In both interiors and cuisine. In a creative collaboration with restaurateurs, artists, and graffiti artists, Tengbom designed the interior.
Food was the starting point when Tengbom crafted the interior for the new Persian restaurant Coup d’état in Östermalm, Stockholm. Just as classic saffron rice, lamb, and aubergine purée meet modern oysters with sorbet and an extensive cocktail list, the interior reflects the loving palace coup. Persian green meets neon and street art.
Learn Farsi in an unexpected setting
An intercontinental mix
Persian cuisine with French and Scandinavian influences is on the menu at Coup d’état – French for “state coup.” The nations referenced in the kitchen are echoed in Tengbom’s interior concept. This is a restaurant that aims to shake things up, even if the weapons on the walls have had flowers tucked into their barrels.
“To carry out a palace coup by elevating Persian cuisine was something I appreciated,” writes star restaurateur Erik Videgård, who developed the menu. “I want to evolve modern Persian cuisine into something new, something luxurious, something everyone can relate to.”
Creative (artistic) collaboration with Coup d’état
The restaurant spans two floors. A dinner club at street level, and in the basement, a bar and a cinema showing black-and-white Iranian films from before the revolution. In the restroom, a looped language course in Farsi plays, adding an unexpected layer to the experience.
“We created the interiors through a creative collaboration between us as architects and the restaurateurs. Two of whom are artists themselves,” says project lead architect and design director Katya Högberg from Tengbom.
“We commissioned a graffiti artist with a strong identity, resulting in an interior that’s quite raw yet elegant.”
Katya Högberg
The space previously housed a Lebanese restaurant, which made it possible to reuse some of the existing chairs and tables. The team also rebuilt and repurposed the bars to suit the new concept. As a bonus, the kitchen and logistical functions were already in place, allowing the new operations to get off to a smooth start.
Among others, partners and artists involved in the project included Jacob Erixon, Ali S, and Arman Sultani.
Collaborators:
Ljusrum, Nyréns, AIX, Stockholms Målerikonservering, BK Beräkningskonsulter
With the renovation of Östermalm Market Hall, Tengbom has preserved a part of the city’s history while creating a new way to experience this historic culinary destination. The market hall has undergone the most comprehensive renovation in 130 years, and together with the new market hall hotel, this cultural legacy is ready to welcome visitors for yet another century to come.
The large, curved windows and original entrances were renovated and accentuated with nighttime lighting. Photo: Lasse Olsson
After a little over a century in operation, Östermalm Market Hall was in great need of renovation. Decades of sporadic updates had resulted in a space that was no longer particularly inviting.
Our task: update, accentuate and improve
Restoring the market hall to its original luster involved significant challenges. We looked back in time to put the venue’s history to use, but the building also needed to meet modern requirements, and new additions should enhance the visitor experience.
Restaurants along the building facades in combination with longer opening hours and outdoor seating areas contribute to a thriving outdoor setting. Photo: Åke E:son Lindman
We had to review the building’s technology and consider the complex logistics that take place in and around the hall. Adaptations for accessibility, replacing essentially all technology, and reinforcing the cultural-historic and antiquarian values of the building topped the agenda. Simply put: we wanted to elevate the user experience without corrupting any part of the building.
Respectful adaptation for the future
We have taken a comprehensive approach with great care for the character and details of the building, from technical functions and structural initiatives to restoring the original decoration. The original star-shaped floor plan has been restored to benefit retail and create clearer walkways. Additional features have been added to create new experiences, such as long balconies with seating for restaurant guests. Greater accessibility requirements contribute to a better experience for everyone, with elevators and additional toilets.
The original colour scheme and decorative details have been restored. Photo: Åke E:son Lindman
New additions have a clear contemporary look that is quieter than the bold and colourful cultural-historic environment. In other cases, the choice was to emphasize and enhance the original appearance of the market hall. Paint conservators have carefully scraped away layer after layer of paint to reveal a picture of the building’s history.
The original wood construction of the market hall has been renovated and adapted with low paneling and marble counters with integrated refrigerators and display areas. Photo: Åke E:son Lindman
Today, visitors encounter a more vibrant space, but in the same colours as before. Light also streams through the gable windows once more. The windows had been painted over at one point, but have now been replaced with new windows and an innovative jalousie system developed from boating technology to protect goods from direct sunlight.
Improved flows and new experiences
Today, visitors are met with a uniform and harmonious experience, a market hall that is now inclusive, adapted for accessibility and sustainable. Improved flows, smarter entryway solutions and a new waste and recycling system that reduces the number of truck transports to a fifth of what it was are just some of the elements that make Östermalm Market Hall an ultramodern meeting place. Restaurants along the building’s facades combined with longer opening hours contribute to a bustling environment outside, with greater focus on contemporary needs and behaviors, such as socializing and being seen.
The hotel – a new way to experience this historic culinary destination
A new hotel has opened that is connected to the market hall. Through parametric design and innovative architecture, Tengbom has helped create an extraordinary hotel experience. An old industrial candy factory from 1910 and an Art Nouveau residential building from 1888 have been transformed into a chic hotel. It was a tricky task to chisel a hotel out of buildings in different styles and from different eras. The historic character of the buildings had to be respected, and at the same time, we needed to unite the structures and redesign the floor plan for compatibility as a hotel. To achieve functional flows on each floor, a modern addition in handmade brick was added to the existing buildings. Together, the buildings circle a courtyard.
Together, the modern addition and the original buildings circle a courtyard and create a new meeting place in the city. Photo: Åke E:son Lindman
With the market hall hotel, a new sense of flow and energy have been established on the block.
The addition in handmade brick, perforated with sound absorption underneath to create a comfortable sound environment in the hotel courtyard. Photo: Åke E:son Lindman
A glass roof in collaboration with tech and the sky
We designed the courtyard as a year-round meeting place to ensure both function and enjoyment. To achieve this, we covered the space with a specially designed glass roof. The elegant, undulating shape makes the roof feel like an extension of the sky rather than a glass cover. Placing a glass roof over three buildings with eaves at different heights posed a unique challenge. We also aimed to retain the feeling of being outdoors while preserving the neighbors’ view and daylight. To solve this, we used parametric design—an algorithmic approach that streamlines the construction of complex shapes. This method allowed us to maximize the glass surface, minimize structural elements, and create a slender roof with an open feel.
With minimal structural elements, the undulating glass roof elegantly arches across the three different buildings with eaves at dissimilar heights. Photo: Åke E:son Lindman
Sound – a crucial component
In a large, glassed-in courtyard, acoustics can pose an obstacle to a pleasant experience and the sense of being outdoors. To reduce echoes and excess noise, we chose to cover the addition with a perforated brick facade. By leaving out every other brick and adding sound absorption underneath, we succeeded in creating effective sound reduction. The abstract brick pattern gives the facade a compelling depth while serving an important function. To further ensure noise reduction and a pleasant sound environment, we chose acoustic plaster as a complement when re-plastering the old residential building.
“Now passersby can take a shortcut from Nybrogatan via the hotel and market hall to Humlegårdsgatan – which also benefits commercial activity in both buildings”.
Mark Humphreys, Lead Architect and Office Director
a chic hotel. The passage between the hotel and the market hall now creates a new city flow through the block. Photo: Åke E:son Lindman
The result – a new city flow
The passage features site-cast concrete and terrazzo stairs. This creates a subtle yet contrasting transition between the market hall and the hotel. Photo: Lasse Olsson
We retained and restored an existing passage that leads from the street to the hotel’s courtyard. We also created a new passage to connect the courtyard to the market hall. Together, these changes have introduced a new city flow through the block.
“Now passersby can take a shortcut from Nybrogatan via the hotel and market hall to Humlegårdsgatan – which also benefits commercial activity in both buildings.” The new passage that cuts through the old brick and concrete construction required powerful support frames. We chose to expose these changes in painted black steel and site-cast concrete, while creating an understated, contrasting transition to the colourful, detailed environment of the market hall and hotel.
The new passage now connects the market hall to the hotel. Inside, Leontine Arvidsson’s artwork “Bäst före: torsdagen den 12 mars 2020” (“Best by: Thursday, March 12, 2020”) adds a striking visual element. Photo: Åke E:son Lindman.
Taken together, we’ve created an experience that feels like traveling back in time, while the market hall is relevant for the future once again. Time will tell if we’ve hit the right note, as we did with the temporary market hall. But for now the city, country and world have regained a piece of cultural heritage – and then some.
Footnote: The hotel operator and architect Per Öberg developed the design concept for the hotel.
Awards and Recognitions
In 2021, Östermalm Market Hall won the Swedish Lighting Prize (Interior Category) and Stockholm Building of the Year.
In the summer of 2018, the doors reopened to the Capitol movie theater, Stockholm’s most luxurious cinema experience. Tengbom developed the interior design concept in the same celebratory spirit.
You can watch both new movies and old classics here.
From 1926 to 1985, Capitol was Vasastan’s largest (initially) and most beautiful movie theater. Now, as the movie theater opens its doors once again following a comprehensive renovation, that history is being re-created with a new concept.
With Art Deco as a base, Tengbom was tasked by E/S-A as architects to come up with an interior design concept. It had to deliver a more grown-up movie-going experience, for theater-goers who dine and drink in the auditoriums while enjoying the culture of new and classic films. The interior decor is framed with bold details, striking colours and custom-designed patterns.
Take the magic with you
The roaring 20s are easy to recognize in the preserved original details, such as arches, columns, railings and stucco, and at the same time, the overall look is brand new. Consistent with settings from this era, new and old elements are present in both the materials and the design.
The idea is to re-create the magic of the movie theater and the feeling that going to the movies is an event – but in the era of conscientiousness
Particular care has been paid to the bar at the entrance, because it is the vibrant hub of the theater. Here, the goal was to work mainly with various exclusive natural materials. This creates an environment that will stand the test of time and age beautifully with the movie-goers. Standout materials include solid wood, stone and brass.
Sandra Wall designed two different rug patterns for the auditoriums.
Hand-drawn patterns and a burst of colour at the Capitol theater
Inside the auditoriums, Tengbom’s interior design architect Sandra Wall designed two different rug patterns to give the otherwise dark theater a strong identity. One auditorium features a rug framed by a prism pattern, reminiscent of projector lights. The other showcases a majestic blue floral pattern that echoes the design of the arch in the auditorium.
“The rugs are showstoppers in the auditoriums”
The colours also have a distinctively Capitol quality. The auditorium walls feature turquoise and Bordeaux tones. Green and blue velvet fabrics enhance the space. Together, they bring out a surprising and more striking palette from the 1920s.
“With a modern twist on the palette, we’re stepping away from classic movie theater red. Instead, we’re bringing history into the present. Since opening, many pictures of the theater have been shared on social media. The carefully chosen colours have truly strengthened the theater’s identity. It should be clear that this is Capitol and only Capitol, not any other theater,” says Filip Svensson, who developed the interior design concept with Sandra Wall and Kjerstin Björck at Tengbom.
On behalf of Volvo Cars, Tengbom has developed and transformed the staff restaurant in Torslanda to become a contemporary place for meetings between people, food cultures, and landscapes. Say hello to The Hive.
The interior architects Lisa Wingård, Karin Gullbrantz and Anders Löwander have enabled better utilisation of space, which means that the 2, 200 square metres that were previously used a fey hours a day are now a crowded place where spontaneous meeting happen continuously throughout the working day.
One of the challenges with The Hive involved designing an interior environment that aligned with the company’s brand and identity. The team translated this concept into various scenes inspired by the Swedish landscape. Choosing to create a dedicated food court for an exclusive group made the project truly unique.
For Tengbom, the assignment with The Hive began by redecorating the catering kitchen inside the restaurant, about 650 square metres of industrial kitchen space.
Curious to see more?
Tengbom has completed a wide range of projects in restaurants, interior design, kitchens, lighting design, product design, and more. Our expertise spans multiple disciplines, allowing us to create unique and well-crafted spaces. We continuously update our portfolio with fresh inspiration and exciting work. Feel free to explore and discover our latest projects!
Partners:
Light Support (lightning consultant), Lerch Träinredningar (carpentry), Oscar Liedgren (graphic design), Blumenthalgroup (construction), Jan Engström (project management)
Type of project:
Interior Design
Year of Commission:
2016-2017
Awards and Recognitions:
Nominated for WAF 2018, Nominated for Restaurant & Bar Design Awards 2018
A brand-new dining concept with a lively atmosphere and a pinch of subtle decadence was recently commissioned by Stockholm Krogbolag. The restaurant weaves together Scandinavian, Japanese and Korean influences under the enigmatic name TAKO that translates to dragon or octopus. With an uncompromising approach to quality, Tengbom has created a unique space, marrying architectural and graphic expressions into a far-flung flair.
Modern with a story
Wall-to-wall with its sister restaurant—Vassa Eggen, TAKO hides culinary treasures Stockholm hasn’t seen before. The space on Birger Jarlsgatan 29 has been known for its flourishing nightlife, where several clubs entertained flamboyant crowds once upon a time. A remanence of that era—varying floor levels and narrow passages have now been elevated to recreate the atmosphere of mystical backstreets of Tokyo that promise unforgettable adventures to those that find the way. An obscure, almost enigmatic entrance leads the guests down the glowing staircase that opens to an underground world steeped in deep jewel-like tones.
When you have the possibility to be in charge of the design process down to the very last detail, strong concepts arise.
Mystic elegance
Offering seating for 180 guests and comfortable space for up to 300, TAKO features a sushi bar, an open barbecue station and a large drink bar. The lit aisles navigate the customers through a myriad of rooms and let them discover cosy nooks hidden from the sight behind mesh screens. Dimmed lights and varying dining suites enhance the atmosphere of a backstreet milieu. Hand-chiselled natural materials such as stone, wood and concrete add the finishing touch. Copper elements combined with cushy upholstery and earth-toned leather bring a welcoming warmth to the space. In the middle of the room, a temple-inspired suite assumes centre stage, graced by a bespoke fish pond carpet.
Relationships that go way back
The project is a part of a long business relationship between Stockholm Krogbolag and Tengbom, TAKO being the fifth restaurant we have designed for the restaurateur.
”When you have the possibility to be in charge of the design process down to the very last detail, strong concepts arise. Our collaboration with Stockholm Krogbolag has just got stronger with years. The mutual trust between us allows us to take the interiors to new design heights”, says Filip Svensson, interior designer at Tengbom. Filip worked on the project together with Ninna Helena Söderström and Josef Zetterman.
“The restaurant has a quirky twist and an element of surprise, without compromising on the utmost attention to quality”
A twinkle in the eye
The graphic identity of the restaurant is created by Studio Oscar Liedgren, a longtime business partner. We share a successful history of collaborations and a strong creative foundation.
“When different teams work with the same client and receive the same brief, interesting things happen,” says Oscar Liedgren. “Our sensibilities start to reflect one another. It gets even better when they enhance each other. That’s when a special kind of creative spark ignites. This was exactly the case with the TAKO project. Everything fits together, like perfect pieces of a puzzle.”
By controlling the design process and maintaining a close dialogue with both the client and the carpenters from the very beginning, we ensured that every detail was carefully refined along the way. As a result, TAKO has developed into a sophisticated and standout addition to Stockholm’s restaurant scene. At the same time, it has become another masterpiece in Kristofer Sandström and Christian Olsson’s impressive business portfolio.
“TAKO is like an elegant friend with a twinkle in the eye. We want to create a social atmosphere filled with unique experiences and build our own dining culture together,” says Kristofer Sandström, founder of Stockholm Krogbolag. “The restaurant has a quirky twist and an element of surprise. At the same time, we never compromise on the utmost attention to quality.”
Type of project:
Restaurant concept, Interior design, Planning
Year of Commission:
2016
Awards and Recognitions:
Winner, German Design Award 2019, Nominated for Frame Awards: Bar of the Year 2018, Nominated for The Andrew Martin Designer of the Year Award 2018
Partners:
Artists: Jacob Erixson, Emil & Chris Deepwood tattoo; Project management: Nima Aase, Turner & Townsend; Entreprenör: Konrad Lewko, Manor House
How do you create a restaurant that feels pioneeringly decadent, yet warm and welcoming at the same time? A visit at Hilma in Stockholm will give you the answer.
Here, Tengbom’s interior design studio displayed its most innovative side, while care for the client and the visitor can be seen in every little detail.
“It is a holistic experience. Our work has included using multiple layers, extensive detail and contrasting materials and artwork. This restaurant is one fantastic roller coaster ride. Here you’ll find beauty and grotesqueness, innovation and something quite different”, says Nadia Tolstoy, who is an interior designer and also took on the role of creative director for the assignment.
Cosy with an edge
The client, Generator Hostel, which has a portfolio full of design-driven hostels in trendy cities, has become known for not shying away from full-on interiors, and it was also from this that the “decadence and fetishism brief” emerged. But how do you design a “decadent interior”? And how do you combine that with the other clear desire, that Hilma should be a warm and cosy neighbourhood restaurant where everyone should feel welcome?
The solution was to zoom out a bit, and look at the world of art and fashion to see how they tackle subcultures. One clear inspiration was the artist Hilma Af Klint. The interior design circle around a contemporary Klint figure who creates tattoos with occult elements, shakes curative drinks and is a cruel figure in the DJ booth. To balance this out and create a sense of the artist’s superb treatment of colour, unexpected details are combined with warm, inviting fabrics, powdery colours and plenty of humour.
The balance is the be-all and end-all
The restaurant is divided into clear zones and a great deal of the interior design is specially aimed at being adapted to the brief and the premises.
“When the customer comes to us with a vision of an environment that really stands out, you cannot just use ready-made solutions”, says Sara Persson, the interior designer in charge, who has designed everything from beds for people who want to eat lying down, splash-painted couches with stirrups, provocative light fittings, a cage that also functions as a VIP room and Instagram-friendly rope art installations.
At Hilma there is also a functioning tattoo studio as an important part of the concept. And not forgetting enticing vintage pinball machines and multi-coloured flooring. But there is also a trustworthy bar in the traditional way and quieter seating areas for people who have come for the dining experience.
Hilma stands out for its unique mix of action and calm. The same contrast defines the district where the restaurant is located—a quiet corner of the capital. At least for now.
“This summer, people will be able to eat outdoors, which is completely new for this area,” says Katya Högberg, architect at Tengbom and project lead. “Torsgatan is transforming into a pedestrian and cycle precinct, and the area will change significantly.”
“Generator often tends to choose central locations that are a little bit “unexpected”. It will be exciting to see the energy emerges when a new, hip restaurant opens that was adamant about recreating a small part of Stockholm”, she continues.
“It will create a ripple effect throughout the district. And this time, we will be helping”, concludes Nadia Tolstoy.
Partners:
KS Projekt, Kökspennan och Oscar Liedgren
Years of commission:
2014–2015
Competences:
Interior design, Hotel & Restaurant
In the autumn of 2015, the doors were opened to restaurant Kommendören, another one of the concepts that we have developed to the Vassa Eggen group. This is a neighbourhood restaurant based on the New York bistro culture with a nicely relaxed, noisy atmosphere and a focus on really good food.
Kommendörsgatan 7, at the corner of Brahegatan, sits right next to Humlegården in Stockholm. This is where you’ll find the restaurant Kommendören. Since its opening, Kommendören has quickly become a popular neighborhood eatery. This was exactly what owners Christian Olsson and Kristofer Sandström envisioned when our collaboration began.
”Our task was really to find an interior design concept that rhymed with the menu – a modern American bistro with international influences and a love of really good quality”.
Filip Svensson, Interior Designer
Photo: Björn Lofterud
Photo: Björn Lofterud
Photo: Björn Lofterud
Specially designed and rustic
The result is a genuine, rustic bistro environment for approximately 60 guests in the restaurant and a further 25 by the bar. Almost all the interiors have been specially designed, from the light fixtures to the unusual bar. We have also designed the area with private booths that are separated by black, mullioned windows from metal. A detail that returns around the doors and mirrors in the room as well as the windows facing the street.
Kommendörsgatan 7, at the corner of Brahegatan, stands next to Humlegården in Stockholm. Here, the restaurant Kommendören welcomes its guests. Since opening, it has quickly become a popular neighborhood eatery. This is exactly what owners Christian Olsson and Kristofer Sandström envisioned when our collaboration began.
Bar of American proportions
The bar at Kommendören is much narrower that what is normal in Sweden. This is quite common in the USA and it means you get much closer to the bartender. This offers a more personal and relaxed effect, a reduced barrier that makes chatting easier.
Another fun partnership
Kommendören is one more in the line of fantastic restaurant concept that we have developed in partnership with the Vassa Eggen group. Vassa Eggen, Boquería, Albert & Jack’s and Tennstopet are all projects with strong concepts that have developed from our collaboration.
At Kommendören we have also collaborated with Oscar Liedgren Studio, who have developed the graphic profile of the studio. We have collaborated with Oscar Liedgren before on projects such as restaurant Boquería, and most recently on Tengbom’s own graphic profile. To etch the logotype of the Kommendören into the bar stools of the restaurant was a fun idea that complemented each other’s projects in a nice way.
