Snickeriet, a historic industrial building in the Varvsstad district of Malmö, has been named winner of Guldstolen Interiör 2025.
The prize is awarded annually by the Swedish Association of Architects to interior architecture projects of high artistic, innovative, and functional merit.
The project involved converting the oldest building at the former Kockums shipyard into offices for Lindahl law firm. To address flooding risk in the area, the structure was raised by half a metre — an engineering intervention that set the tone for a project defined by careful problem-solving throughout.
Photo: Markus Linderoth.
Sustainability through reuse is central to the scheme. Bricks recovered from a partially demolished load-bearing wall and previously bricked-up windows were repurposed as the new entrance floor. Existing furniture from Lindahl’s previous premises was retained and integrated into the new layout. The original industrial character of the building has been preserved, with exposed brick and structural timber forming a consistent material palette, while new elements are clearly legible as additions.
To gain additional floor area and improve daylight access, the roof of the former attic storey was raised and a continuous glazed slot added along the facade and ridge. Inside, a central staircase running through the building creates visual connection and movement between floors.
The jury noted the balance between the building’s raw, unfinished quality and its precisely reworked details — describing the result as robust yet sophisticated, with a modern working environment built for long-term functional and aesthetic performance.
The architect was involved from initial brief to completion, a factor the jury highlighted as key to satisfying both the city’s stringent heritage requirements and the practical demands of a contemporary office.
Snickeriet, Malmö. Photo: Markus Linderoth.
