Adaptive reuse: Studio Sutton futureproofs a historical Stockholm landmark

Photography: Alex Sutton

Built in the nineteenth century for the Enskilda Bank, Lilla Nygatan 23 immediately impresses with its decorative interiors, generous floor-to-ceiling height and large, arched windows – some of the qualities that attracted flexible workplace brand Spaces to the building in Stockholm’s Gamla Stan, recently converting it into a flexible, amenity-rich office and coworking destination.

When re-envisioning the space, London-based architecture and design firm Studio Sutton employed a calm, sophisticated palette of materials, complementing this with refined joinery pieces in warm European oak and timeless furniture and light fixtures. As such, the workspace takes certain design cues from hospitality, bestowing it with the atmosphere of an understated yet luxury hotel – an example of the growing ‘hotelisation’ of today’s offices, as designers find more ways to cater to the needs of an increasingly hybrid workforce.

Studio Sutton arranged the key communal spaces across three main floors, including a first-floor business club and a meeting room in the basement. Each space is linked by the original staircase and hallway, with the aim of connecting the everyday user to the history of the property. In the entrance hall, visitors are greeted by striking marble columns, vaulted ceilings and stone floors, while in the first-floor business club, low-level joinery pieces are set carefully set away from the perimeter walls to preserve the building’s Neoclassical features. Sourcing furniture from Vitra, Gubi, Artek, Hay and AndTradition with complementary green and red colourways, Studio Sutton also recalls the decorative lamps on the ceremonial staircase with carefully placed brass accents.

A range of different working styles are accommodated for at the new Spaces hub, with the first-floor business club boasting a coffee bar, a central zone with soft seating and a communal table for coworking, and a row of carriage booths for quieter, focused work. A meeting suite can be found in the vaulted basement space, with a generous break out space, self-service kitchen and a series of arched timber portals, which are softened by a warm palette for a cosy, collaborative atmosphere.