Fabulous Future Factory founded by Karin Matz & Anders Berensson in collaboration with Fabege, Spring 2026.
Part of the Building lab series with KTH master studios exploring full scale construction. Students not mentioned by name due to Swedish regulations.
Tenant adaptations are some of the most common construction projects in the industry and make up a big part of the work we architects do. Even though these projects often involve fairly simple structures and rarely need to consider weather conditions, there’s very little reuse happening in this part of the field. People tend to stick to
the way things have always been done. Reusing materials can be
tricky—it raises questions about room specifications, warranties, and
responsibilities. It’s usually easier to work with new products, even
though reused materials can be just as good, and often cheaper.
Another key point is the expectation of freshness. Few people want to move
into a space that feels old or tired. The feeling of newness, freshness, and
smooth functionality shouldn’t be underestimated—especially in offices or
commercial spaces that might not have strong architectural features to offer.
These days, many offices look very similar, with the same ceiling heights, moldings, and acoustic ceiling panels. In many cases, the only thing that can make a space stand out is that feeling of freshness. That means reused materials need to be handled in a way that keeps the space looking vibrant and appealing.
Branding is another important factor. Companies naturally want to show
off their brand, often against a simple backdrop so that their products
stand out. But the changes one tenant makes to highlight their brand rarely fit the next tenant’s preferences. A perfect example is Telia’s former offices at the Mall of Scandinavia. Telia, the former Swedish telecom provider, had a very distinct color profile—orange, green, and purple carpets—that clearly said “Telia” about 15 years ago. Now, Telia has moved out, leaving thousands of square meters of branded carpets behind.
The challenge was: can these carpets get a new life? Can they be given a
second chance by mixing them into new patterns? Can we turn them into
something fresh, exciting, and functional instead of throwing them away?
