Is it an Office or is it a University...?

...my question is why should that matter? Shouldn't you be trying to better yourself everyday? Today's post is both these things and good on it.

Recently a one of my darling firms, Tengbom, designed the interiors of Swedish power company Vattenfall’s, new head office in the Arena City (Arenastaden) neighbourhood of Solna just north of Stockholm. Located in one of Sweden’s most energy efficient office buildings, the new premises gathers all 2,000+ Stockholm-based employees, previously based at three different locations, under one roof.


Vattenfall’s intent was for the building to act as a campus, promoting natural interactions and skill transferal. In turn the heart of the office is the atrium, where there is movement and bustle that enables. On the ground floor of the building’s atrium there is a cafe and ‘living rooms’ on either side of the stairs, designed as bleachers with cushions and tables.

The new office consists of four buildings linked by a connecting atrium. The colour scheme of the project is based on the four elements, earth, fire, wind and water, which are expressed in the office spaces of the four different buildings. Tengbom connected these four elements to Vattenfall’s main areas of business, natural resources and the different types of energy sources under the Vattenfall umbrella. The open plan offices are placed separately from the atrium, thereby making the workspaces quiet zones without distraction.


Vattenfall had very specific requirements for the desks. They did not want to settle for the traditional rows of desks with clusters of four. They wanted their new offices to be more alive and organic. The work stations have therefore been designed by Tengbom and are specially developed for Vattenfall, manufactured by Ragnars. The office complex also offers an in-house wellness centre with sports hall, gym, spinning bikes and a full time chiropractor. The building has also been awarded the Green Building Award in Sweden and in the EU.