Archives

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

Related

Ole.Fit Munkka gym, Helsinki

Strength in collaboration
Interior Design
Sports
Client: Ole.Fit
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Year of commission: 2023
Gross floor area: 1,544 m²
Photographer: Tengbom

The idea that workplaces should provide opportunities for exercise is quickly becoming a given, both in Sweden and Finland. Tengbom in Helsinki has developed a strong expertise in designing gyms, and Ole.Fit Munkka is no exception. Thanks to a solution-oriented process carried out in close collaboration with the client, we didn’t have to compromise on the result.

Ole.Fit Munkka is a fully equipped gym located within a six-story office complex. Formerly the headquarters of IBM, the building is now a business center under the Bloomsville umbrella. To make room for the gym, an auditorium and several office spaces were repurposed.

“More and more companies are recognizing employee well-being, and providing opportunities for physical activity, as a key factor for property developers,” says Niina Isojärvi, architect at Tengbom in Helsinki. “For us as architects, designing a gym requires both precision and adaptability.”

Acoustic and material solutions for good neighborly relations

Designing a gym in an office building demands thorough planning. It’s not just about meeting the client’s expectations, but also about managing how the gym affects surrounding tenants and operations. Gyms tend to generate noise: a dropped dumbbell, a treadmill pounding under fast intervals, a lively group training session that erupts in cheers. Noise levels and acoustics are thus among the biggest challenges when integrating a gym into a multi-tenant building. Flooring and material properties must also be considered — along with, not least, ventilation.

“In a renovation project like Ole.Fit Munkka, this equation is not always straightforward,” says Niina. “Another factor to consider is ceiling height, which is also crucial in gym design. There’s a lot of puzzle-solving involved.”

Ventilation and technical systems

One major challenge was integrating the ventilation and technical systems into the ceiling structure without lowering it too much. In the yoga room, we conducted detailed planning for acoustics and ventilation, carefully coordinating HVAC systems and insulation materials to fit within the ceiling.

“We considered leaving the ceiling exposed, which would have looked very refined and elegant,” Niina shares. “But due to the room’s acoustics, we ultimately decided to conceal the equipment above the ceiling.”

The floor soundproofing, however, posed no issues. Beneath the gym are not offices, but rather bike storage and staff locker rooms.

It must be allowed to make noise when exercising

Renovation for improved accessibility

In addition to the gym, the building, originally constructed in 1979 and 1985, is undergoing a full renovation, including a facade update. The completed Ole.Fit Munkka gym spans a total area of 1,544 square meters. It features an open free weights area, a cardio section with treadmills, a large group training studio, a smaller studio for functional training, and a yoga room. There are also private treatment rooms for physiotherapy and massage. Complementing these are showers, saunas, changing rooms, and both work and social spaces for gym staff.

Beyond the planned interior adaptations, the gym also received a new entrance. Previously, entry was from inside the building. During the renovation, we expanded a rear staircase that had served as a back door, transforming it into the main entrance and adding a new entryway from the outside. This also made the entrance accessible.

The interiors evoke a sense of luxury. The brown color palette on walls and ceilings pairs harmoniously with wooden wall and ceiling panels. The lighting design ensures the spaces feel ambient, not dark.

Gym projects require coordination

In close dialogue with the contractors, the gym chain Ole.Fit, and their interior design firm Sisustusarkkitehdit Kalliomaa Oy, we conducted a thorough assessment of the spatial character, functionality, lighting, and materials.

“There was a lot of coordination involved. We held many meetings to align Ole.Fit’s wishes with the timelines and needs of other parties,” says Niina.

The goal was to find solutions that would satisfy everyone — without compromising the final outcome. Despite a tight schedule, Ole.Fit Munkka opened in autumn 2023 and is now operational. Another gym project by Tengbom’s Helsinki office is Elixia Circus, which opened in November 2021. Elixia Circus is located in the former concert and nightclub venue The Circus on Arkadiagatan in Helsinki. For locals, the building is known as the Innotalo, designed by Einari Teräsvirta.

Contact person

Petrus Laaksonen

Head of Design, Tengbom Finland
+358 41 526 6537

Related

Hatstore Arena

For sports, culture, and community
Architecture, Interior Design
Branding & Concept, Sports, Sports & Health
Client:
Location: Kalmar
BTA: 8,966 m²
Finished: 2021
Awards and recognitions: Nominated for Meeting Place of the Year, Kalmar 2023

Why doesn’t Kalmar have an event space for both sports and music? The municipality thought long and hard about this question — and the idea for the Hatstore Arena was born. With the contract in hand, Tengbom decided to design a building that presented the city of Kalmar as a dynamic cultural center.

Hatstore Arena
The facade is covered with corrugated, perforated aluminum, bringing a sense of rawness to the building based on how light reflects off it and how transparent it is. Photo: Felix Gerlach
On the south end, the ice-skating rink connects to the Carlberg Villa and Carlberg Park.

Kalmar’s old ice-skating rink, which had previously been used for ice hockey, public skating, and figure skating, has now been redesigned and turned into a larger event center for cultural events with space for up to 3,500 people.

“We wanted to build something robust,” explains Johan Kjellnäs, lead design architect at Tengbom. “The building should be made of robust materials that don’t require unnecessary maintenance. The space needs to be durable, with many wet rooms that will see a lot of use from all the different events the center hosts. At the same time, we wanted to pull out all the stops and create a building with a unique design.”

“Kalmar finally has a proper event center!”

Kalmar Residents

Hatstore Arena
The RGB lighting can be changed for different events, transforming the front square into a stage once the sun goes down. Photo: Adam Kjellnäs
Hatstore Arena
From the top of the staircase, you have a view over the entire arena. Photo: Felix Gerlach

An ice crystal greets visitors

“It’s always a good idea to have a clear vision to base the design on. That way, everyone has the same image in mind throughout the project,” explains Johan Kjellnäs.

The vision: an ice block that sparkles in the light. A modern design that both contrasts and harmonizes with the city. Photo: Adam Kjellnäs

The building’s design is reminiscent of an ice crystal that is partly transparent and glitters in the light. Inside, the arena makes up the center of the building. How transparent the building is depends on how the building’s facade is lit up. To reach the arena space, visitors follow a directed path into the building’s center. Visible from far away, the main entrance leads visitors into the arena via a wide central staircase. Following the staircase, a large, warm, red room welcomes visitors with a view overlooking the ice and event space.

Hatstore Arena
The foyer, with its colourful staircase, acts as a preview for the overall arena experience. Photo: Felix Gerlach
Hatstore Arena
Entry staircase and foyer. Red for passion and black for intimacy. Concrete for robustness and circles for community. Photo: Felix Gerlach

“It’s a classic, but effective trick that architects use. Visitors go from a small room to a large one, where they can easily find their spot, and where the restaurant and bar are visible,” Johan Kjellnäs explains.

Designed to stand out

The exterior is designed with a corrugated, perforated aluminum panel that overlays the building’s transparent facade, adding fragility and delicateness to the structure’s overall effect. The facade is lit up from below, illuminating the building’s face with horizontal lines – almost like a stage with a backdrop. The colour of the lighting can be changed, which helps a lot when matching the building’s facade to the type of event being advertised.

Red for passion

In terms of the design, we’ve been very conscious of both materials and colours. The colour red symbolizes passion, while also being Kalmar’s team colour. Black symbolizes intimacy. The wood detailing creates a sense of warmth, which is woven into the raw concrete that gives the building robustness. The circular patterns symbolize figure skaters’ pirouettes, hockey pucks, movements and community. These patterns are also found in the suspended ceiling, materials and artistic decor.

View of the balconies inside the arena from the restaurant. Photo: Felix Gerlach

The facade is covered by a pleated, perforated alumininum sheet, which with the transparent underlying volume adds fragility and sheen to the design. The facade lighting is directed from the ground and strikes the facade where it creates horizontal lines – almost like a scene with a background. The colour of the lighting can be changed based on the event to be written and help build the right mood.

Hatstore Arena – a place for experiences

Hatstore Arena is now open, giving Kalmar residents a much-needed setting where community and experiences are the focal points. Every city needs a public space for applause and cheers. This is where dreams come true, and where, unfortunately, some dreams come to an end.

“Now we’re just waiting for artistic pieces to be added outside the arena,” Johan Kjellnäs goes on to say, “There are going to be three art pieces in the front square that will help complete the overall design. Following every stage of the project, from the initial vision to the final product, was a lot of fun. And in the words of a passer-by, “Kalmar finally has a proper event center!”

Hatstore Arena
Photo: Felix Gerlach

Contact person

Joao Pereira

Practice Director Linköping
+46 708 79 99 38

Related