Anders Berensson
Architects in collaboration with interior designer Pelle Rickberg and Wild
Windows has designed the retrofitting of an old barn "Vinkelladan" in
Norra Djurgården Stockholm. The barn is programmed to do two things. The first
is to host conferences and events, the second is to educate Fjällräven
ambassadors from all over Europe in the company’s philosophy, products and
retail. The second purpose formed the concept for this design by asking the
question: Do we need architecture to solve this or can we do it with outdoor
clothes and new customs? This questions has led us to find simple solutions to
complicated problems by looking towards the outdoor industry and local customs
rather than doing complicated and costly building designs.
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| Explanatory drawing of the whole interior |
The design is based on the schedule of a normal guest and what they will
experience and learn during some intense days in Sweden. The architecture
should assist the ongoing education in bringing the visitor into a calm,
focused and adoptive mindset. Therefor we decided to write the architecture
like a manuscript focusing on the state of mind of a visitor before making
drawings. People are usually quite susceptible when arriving to a new country.
We decided to take advantage of that and introduce a sportier, sober and
focused Sweden. A Sweden where one go out hiking instead of drinking alcohol in
a hotel lobby, A Sweden that changes into slippers while studying retail, a
Sweden that loves sleeping in super modern tents. This introduction to local
customs and outdoor activities saved us from building hotel rooms, bad
hangovers, and cost for cleaning and sound absorbing plates. But most of all
gave the visitor a more focused and instructive education. Bellow you can read
the manuscript translated into drawings, customs, slippers, tents, benches,
tables plus much more.
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| Drawing of entrance |
The entrance:
When entering
Vinkelladan the guest have been flying for hours across Europe. To take of
your shoes when entering a building is a Swedish custom. As a guest it is a
liberation for the feet to change from shoes into wool moccasins. The wool
moccasins does more than making your feet comfortable, it is also a
transit gesture and a mood changer. On a more pragmatic level it also keeps
Vinkelladan clean from dirt and reduces sharp sounds from shoes
creating a calm and focused learning environment.
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| Moccasin stand |
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| Drawing of Tipis |
The Tipis:
As a visitor you get access to your personal Tipi. The
tent is the home away from home where one can store personal belongings but
also rest and gain focus in between meetings and lectures. The tent is made out
of merino wool that is nontoxic, highly sound absorbing, and fire proof.
The tent has a small shelf in the back for storage of personal things but are
primary designed for resting.
Each tent has a thick wool carpet to rest on.
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| Photograph of Tipis from outside |
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| Photograph of a Tipi from Inside |
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| Drawing of Lounge Sofas |
The Lounge Sofas:
The reviled part of the wooden truss system is one of the most
characteristic parts of the barn. The trusses creates small spaces between
themselves. This space is used for custom made sofas. The space between each
truss varies but it’s just enough to fit two people sitting. You are
also able to lie down behind the trusses if you are alone in
the sofa. The trusses combined with the sofa creates a
smaller intimate space that are much needed in a big room. The sofas
are made of Swedish pine tree.
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| Photograph of Lounge Sofa |
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| Drawing of tables |
The Tables:
The dinner tables was built by the previous owner of the
barn, they are made in glass fiber. The tables
are light but look heavy and looks great. These tables has been equipped
with some nice wood carpentry to make them more useful and blend in better
with the rest of the interior.
The Lounge tables
are made from a locally harvest Elm Tree. A disease called “The Elm Tree
disease” has forced the harvesting of many beautifully elm trees to stop
the disease from spreading. One of these trees where cut down just right next
to Vinkelladan. This tree was gigantic and we wanted to display
its size by cutting it in a horizontal direction and making tables
out of it. At the evening when turning on the lights the lamps projects
traditional board games such as chess, tick tack toe, Chinese checkers
and backgammon. The massive elm trees takes about a year to dry. Right now
there standing under the entrance roof waiting to come inside.
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| Photograph of dinner table |
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| Photograph of Lounge table still drying, the table takes about a year to dry. When dried it will be further drafted as shown in drawing. |
The Office and Test Store:
The education also offer
a full scale test store. The store is built with Fjällrävens latest
interior profile. The shop is a full scale learning experience where people
learn in a real environ how to display items and much more.
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| Photograph of test store in use |
Kitchen:
The kitchen is designed to
feel like your own kitchen where you can open the fridge and grab something to
eat or take a coffee without having to order it from someone. The food is made
in the nearby Fiskartorpet kitchen and prepared on site. Vinkelladan don't
serve alcohol. When leaving the barn you should feel fresh, not hangover.
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| Photograph of kitchen in use |
Sleep:
Since
Vinkelladan is all about an outdoor experience, Vinkelladan doesn't offer traditional
hotel rooms. Vinkelladan offers a tent camp in the middle of the royal
forest. The tents are the best Fjällräven tents filled with outdoor equipment’s for
camping. In the morning you get a cup of coffee or tea and there are
outdoor showers for those who want. Breakfast is served when back at the
barn.
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| Photograph of tent camp |
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| Log/sketch 2, winter mood |
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| Logo/sketch 1, summer mood |
