Johannes Norlander Arkitektur . photos: © Rasmus Norlander
Opening of Acne Studios’ new headquarters, “Floragatan 13”, in the former Czechoslovakian Embassy in Stockholm. Named after the street on which it is located, Floragatan 13 is a classic example of Brutalist architecture from the 1970s. Originally completed in 1972, the building has been entirely restored and regenerated for its own take on a “fashion school” atmosphere; a design utopia that actively encourages creative acts within its walls.
The Floragatan project has been conceived by Jonny Johansson and the Acne Studios design team in collaboration with Johannes Norlander Arkitektur. The original building created by architect, Jan Bocan, has been preserved with great care and respect. Designed for both Cold War secrecy and with Eastern European Modernist pride, its character and juxtaposition of materials are now a source of inspiration for the Acne Studios staff. The four design and production floors are at the heart of the building, from the fitting room and design studio to the atelier and fabric store. Acne Studios pieces are displayed in the lobby as if in an art installation to celebrate the design teams’ work.
Floragatan 13’s overall aesthetic is a reflection of Acne Studios’ identity, with signature interior details telling the story of the brand’s history and global vision. Artist and designer, Max Lamb, has created several custom furniture and decorative elements for the large-scale project. He rendered seating from carved stone for the lobby, a metallic table for the library, vibrant rugs as well as a roundtable for the boardroom as an ode to the Vikings. Artist, Daniel Silver, has created a vast series of abstract collages dedicated to each space, incorporating surplus Acne Studios fabric from over the years.
Long-time collaborator and France-based artist, Benoit Lalloz, is responsible for the light fixtures, which can be found everywhere throughout the building. Many pieces were made in Acne Studios’ quintessential pink hue, bringing softness in contrast to the brutalism in the spaces they illuminate.
The layout of Floragatan 13 is intended to encourage Acne Studios’ employees to meet and mingle across departments. The social spaces are designed to invite people to come together and form relationships, with the canteen housed in the embassy’s former cinema, located in the building’s basement with walls of hand-chiselled concrete.
The ground floor library reveals the welcoming nature of the new headquarters. The space is open to all members of staff, who are encouraged to borrow books and seek inspiration, whatever their role.
Outdoor seating is arranged around the building to invite members of the public into the Acne Studios experience. Convivial touches are found everywhere, like the boardroom’s sunken seating area
with its own fireplace, reminiscent of the former ambassador, who occupied the sixth floor as his personal residence.
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