When Reflex Arkitekter moves its office to Fatburen in Södermalm, the focus is on sustainability. In close cooperation with the landlord AMF Fastigheter, they have reused almost all the furnishings, materials and installations that were previously in the premises. The planned move-in date is 7 March.

AMF Fastigheter's Fatburen property on Södermalm in Stockholm currently houses several well-known companies, including EA Digital solutions CE, Epidemic Sound and Fidelity Information Services Front Arena. On 7 March, Reflex and Reform will move into the building, in a space of 1133 sqm.

In order to create an office that is as sustainable as possible, we have, in close cooperation with AMF Fastigheter, started from the conditions of the premises and reused the materials and building elements that were already in place. We have been involved in the whole process to find solutions for the needs of the business without tearing down and building new. The end result is an office where almost all the furnishings, materials and installations have been reused.

- "We have taken the opportunity to go all-in on reusing both the layout and the furnishings, and we are working with upcycling of leftover materials and used furniture," says Jenny Öberg, interior architect SIR/MSA and partner at Reflex Architects.

In 2021, AMF Real Estate's climate targets were adopted as part of the Science Based Targets initiative. The targets call for a 67% reduction in indirect emissions per square metre by 2030, including adaptation of premises. Interacting with and enabling sustainable choices for tenants is crucial to achieving this goal, and AMF Real Estate is therefore actively working towards this.

- We are delighted to welcome Reflex and Reform to Fatburen, an architectural firm that is genuinely committed to the same goals as we are in reducing the carbon footprint of site adaptation. They show that their commitment, presence and ability to see solutions will create an office that in its own way is something special," says Per Helgesson, Market Area Manager at AMF Fastigheter.

The vision for the new office has been to create a gathering place with spaces for working peace, socialising, meeting and collaborating. The space includes studios and a model-making area, inspiring meeting rooms and a large "social hub".

- After the pandemic, we have learned the importance of being able to offer an attractive physical meeting place for creative processes and social interaction, which is why we are extremely pleased to have found this space," says Marco Folke Testa, architect SAR/MSA, CEO and partner at Reflex Architects.

We are currently working together with Daniel regarding recycling and sustainability in our projects. He's a multidisciplinary and artistic designer who focuses on material recycling of furniture - to explore, develop, manufacture and create new and interesting designs of the old and already discarded. Reform wishes you good luck!

Photo: Sanna Lindberg

It's not every day that an office is designed to include a coffee bar, a test kitchen and a museum. When Reform was commissioned by Reitan Convenience Sweden, the service company behind 7-Eleven and Pressbyrån, the brief was "this is not going to be an ordinary office". 

Reitan has been located on Strandbergatan on Kungsholmen under Essingeleden since the 1960s. Now the company would move a few doors down the same street. The service company with 120 employees for 7-Eleven and Pressbyrån would now move into an old workshop. In addition to a modern office with good meeting space, the new office was required to include an external area with a coffee bar, a test kitchen for the two chains' different food concepts and a 300 square metre museum on the history of Pressbyrån.  

A guiding principle in Reitan's activities is "Kuttism", which loosely translated from Norwegian means "getting a lot from a little". You take what you have and make something simple and fast out of it. Employees are very hands-on and need to be able to quickly test new technologies without intermediaries, such as self-service in the stores (there is a Press Office wall-to-wall with the office), but they also test sausages and buns and try out new coffee in their coffee bar. This posed new challenges for the design of a multifunctional office

- This is the first time I've drawn a museum into an office space! The challenge was a multifunctional office for a modern way of working but also for functions such as a coffee shop and a test kitchen. At the same time, there is an incredible pride in history that will characterise the office. Around the space we specially designed different spaces to place various historical objects that tell about the history of Pressbyrån, 7-Elevens and Sweden, says Jennie Maxe, responsible interior designer at Reform. 

Natural light in harmony with windowless corridor

Reform created a flexible and functional layout that can change with time and the different needs of Reitans. The expression of the different floors was enhanced by details, materials, colours and lighting. 

Lighting was a particular challenge. The building is an old industrial building with a glazed sawtooth roof with two large sections with light, but these are connected by a section with a low ceiling height without daylight. 

The architecture of the building influenced the design of the space and the character of the different floors.

Reform created a line of sight through the space to open up and bring in daylight. In this way, you are drawn into the space in a natural way.

- The daylightless corridors have been enhanced with dramatic lighting and distinctive pools of light. There are also seating areas for conversations or meetings that offer a different lighting environment to standard meeting rooms. It is an asset to be able to seek out different kinds of light environments during a long working day. It's a workout for the eye muscle and the body. Warm light temperatures here enhance the intimate atmosphere and provide a good contrast to the high, bright work surfaces with their rich daylight and ambient light," says Beata Denton, the lighting designer responsible for the project.

The office was completed just as the corona epidemic struck, but life in the new office has slowly begun. 

- The response has been very good. Both employees and external partners think the office is cool and different, says Jennie Maxe. 

Feeling lost in the foggy jungle? You are not alone! Many people see the opportunity to create better and more efficient lighting in offices with smart dimming solutions and different lighting scenarios. But there are many different technical solutions and it's not always easy to find the right one.

Reform's lighting experts Beata Denton and Ulrika Bergström clarify the concepts and give you guidance here.

As interior designers, we often experience anxiety and confusion among clients and organisations when we talk about ABW - activity-based working. It is not for everyone, not a one-size-fits-all solution, but requires specific conditions. Jenny Öberg clarifies the concepts, the process and the results you can expect on interiorarchitecture.com