Project Name: No Picnic
Architect: Elding Oscarson
Client: No Picnic AB
Location: Storgatan 23 C, Stockholm
Gross Area: 1100 sqm
Year of Construction: 2010-11
Photographer: Åke E:son Lindman

Salvaging a 19th Century building, that once was a stable and a troop hall, in Central Stockholm says something about your  vision. It speaks to the respect and acknowledgement of the past and how you pursue pushing the envelope by embracing it. Serving as consultants in industrial design, product design, packaging design, art direction, consumer insight and architecture, No Picnic had to unfold a space that allows for creative exploration, diverse prototyping and absolute comfort. Although building an environment within a protected building is no easy task, Swedish duo Elding Oscarson, saw the opportunity to create ingenious ways to occupy and divide the interior envelope.

The program asked for large, open office spaces, prototype rooms, project rooms and a striking customer area. In order to achieve such compartmentalization, the architect used an old trick to divide while making the space seem bigger, a reflective aluminum wall. This division not only makes the space feel bigger but also allows the exterior light to bounce off the interior, washing the entire office with natural light. Carrying this thought of maximizing the space, Elding Oscarson placed a spiral staircase at the intersection of two walls to access the mezzanine and keep an ample open floor plate below.

The interiors of the No Picnic office unfold a neutral palette with splashes of accent colors. This allows the work and client challenges to give color to the space. The space is open, comfortable, efficient and a platform for inspiration. With focus on space and light, the environment avoids excessive attention to a particular area, leaving an open room for creative problem solving and a welcoming environment for those who work there. One of our favorite creative work spaces, so we had to go back and share with you guys. We believe great work lacks expiration date!

Plan Ground Floor ©  Elding Oscarson