Commissioner: Jernhusen
Landscape Architects: Sweco Architects
Designers: Fredrik Toller
Completion: 2021
When Sweco Architects redesigned historic Centralplan, the open-air concourse outside Stockholm’s central train station, they decided to commission a new line of seating for the site. The concourse was originally designed as a thoroughfare for pedestrians and vehicles that would facilitate access to the station. Today, Centralplan has been reconceived as zone where pedestrians can congregate, sit and make the most of their free time, giving the site the same functions typically found in urban parks and city squares.
The seating made for the site was designed by landscape architect Fredrik Toller with Nola chosen as the manufacturing partner. Called Arkipelag, the seats have now been installed at Centralplan, ready for residents and visitors to enjoy. As the name Arkipelag (Swedish for ‘archipelago’) suggests, the designer conceived the seating as a cluster of small islands. They make space for plants and shrubs, and provide a combination of simple bench seats and park bench designs made with back- and armrests.
From 2022, Arkipelag will be available as part of Nola’s standard seating collection.
Arkipelag is a multifaceted bench and can be placed freestanding, curved or on walls. Photo: Jann Lipka.
Despite its multifaceted use, the bench has a simplicity in its design, with the same pieces of wood for all parts and bench varieties, both for the seating area and backrest. Photo: Jann Lipka.
Products in project