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An alternative guide to Stockholm’s design scene

The Local asked 'punk' design producer and curator Paola Bjäringer where she turns for design inspiration and alternative retail therapy in Stockholm.

Published: 4 February 2020 06:00 CET
Updated: 16 March 2021 17:13 CET
An alternative guide to Stockholm’s design scene
Photo: Jonas Sveningsson - Stockholm Design Week 2019 - Exhibition Heritage at Svenskt Tenn 1938

To understand what is commonly considered to be ‘Swedish design’, first you need to understand a snippet of Sweden’s history.

“The concept of folkhem – coined more than a century ago – called for a democratisation of people’s homes to make them functional and equal for all Swedes. It’s still very much present in the way people consume design today,” explains Paola Bjäringer, founder of Misschiefs, a collective of 10 female designers who are challenging the status quo of Swedish design.

She adds that a new wave of designers are beginning to reimagine what Swedish design stands for. Among them are her fellow Misschiefs trailblazers.

“We aim to present high-end limited edition objects and furniture created with total freedom of expression,” says Paola. “We need to rethink how we create, produce and buy design that lasts and help us better our everyday lives both as functional objects but also as broader proposals for societal change.”

Paola Bjäringer. Credit: Kimberly Ihre

Throughout February, Misschiefs will be exhibiting their collection of contemporary collectible design* in central Stockholm, launching on the opening day of this year’s Stockholm Design Week. It’s the most important week of the year for Scandinavian design with the main event, the Stockholm Light & Furniture Fair at Stockholmsmässan, opening on 8th February. But there’s plenty more to see and do; hundreds of other design events – from exhibitions and seminars to workshops and cocktail evenings – will also take place across the city.

Designers – and design lovers – from across the globe will congregate in the city for Stockholm Design Week and, most likely, a spot of shopping and sightseeing. But where should they start? The Local asked Paola where she turns for design inspiration and alternative retail therapy in the capital.

Woodstockholm

Not only does Woodstockholm serve up some of the most delicious – and most inventive – dishes in the city, it also doubles as a furniture store. The food and furniture share the same philosophy: traditional craftsmanship, quality raw materials, and innovation. The menu is themed and changes every couple of months, so expect something different every time you dine.

Butiken Republiken

Situated on trendy Södermalm island, Butiken Republiken is a boutique and showroom featuring unique design pieces, sculptural building kits, and curated vintage objects. Its founders’ passion for design shines through in the hand-picked collection which is an eclectic blend of old and new. In true Swedish style, there’s also a strong focus on sustainability which is achieved by selling handmade pieces or items produced only in small quantities.

Stockholms Auktionsverk

Founded in 1674, Stockholms Auktionsverk is the world’s oldest auction house to still be in operation today. It’s the leading marketplace for art, crafts and antiques in the Nordics, selling pieces from a variety of ages and eras. “It’s the best place to buy and see objects in town,” enthuses Paola. “For example, it’s the only auction house daring to sell contemporary design prototypes.”

MyrornaRun by Sweden’s Salvation Army, you’ll find Myrorna second-hand shops across the country. “There’s fantastic stuff to be found,” says Paola. Pick up vintage clothes, find a piece of retro furniture, or hunt for smaller design items. There’s plenty to rummage through and lots of Scandi gems waiting to be rediscovered.

Hornstulls marknadEvery weekend between April and September, stalls and food trucks spring up along the waterfront in Hornstull. “It’s a great weekend flea market,” says Paola, and one of the liveliest weekend events in the city as well as a hotspot for the city’s coolest dwellers. Grab a bite to eat and enjoy it in the sunshine sat on wooden deck benches overlooking the water before bagging a bargain. 

Moderna Museet museum shop

Located on the island of Skeppsholmen, Stockholm’s Moderna Museet was opened in 1958 to collect, preserve and exhibit modern and contemporary art. It’s worth visiting the museum as much for the collection as it is to check out the museum shop which is a treasure trove of design-related treats. “There’s always a good choice of interesting smaller design items,” Paola tells The Local.

Nordiska Galleriet

Nordiska Galleriet might not be first that springs to mind when you think of alternative shopping spots, but Paola believes a change in management is beckoning in a new era for one of Europe’s leading contemporary classic furniture stores. “The store famous for showcasing and selling high-end designer objects and furniture looks to be heading towards more risky stuff and featuring specially-made designs like the lamp by Färg&Blanche,” she says.

Visit Stockholm recently launched custom city guides for well-known visitors and tourists. Click here for the chance to have your very own city guide created by those who know Stockholm best.

*A portion of the profits from each item purchased at the Misschiefs exhibition will be donated to The Case For Her, a trailblazing funding collaborative that invests in two areas: menstruation and female sexual health and pleasure.

 

This article was produced by The Local Creative Studio and sponsored by Visit Sweden and Visit Stockholm.

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WEATHER

Why are temperatures of 25C considered a heatwave in Sweden?

In other parts of the world, 25C (77F) is an average summer’s day, so why do Swedes feel the heat more, and what can be done to mitigate the effect of heatwaves in the future?

Published: 26 June 2024 15:07 CEST
Why are temperatures of 25C considered a heatwave in Sweden?

Sweden’s meteorological institute SMHI has issued heatwave warnings for this week, bringing with it a fire risk as temperatures are expected to hit 25-30 degrees Celsius across much of the country.

For readers from a lot of other countries, this might not feel like a big deal, but in Sweden, it’s warm.

There is no standard international definition of a heatwave, with each country deciding how to define it.

In Sweden, the national meteorological institute SMHI defines “high temperatures” as a maximum of 26C three days in a row and “very high temperatures” as a maximum of 30C three days in a row.

If temperatures hit 30C for five days in a row, or reach 33C for three days in a row, this qualifies as “very high temperatures”.

“Extreme heat is a new problem in Sweden,” Martina Söderström, from engineering consultancy company Sweco, told The Local. “It’s only really become an issue in the last ten years, with 2018 a bit of a wake-up call, with very high temperatures and a long heatwave.”

Summer 2018 saw a record number of wildfires ravage the country, Sweden’s hottest July in over 250 years, and the warmest summer since records began across most of southern and central Sweden.

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Not only are Swedes in general more used to cold temperatures, but the country’s infrastructure is built with cold temperatures in mind.

“It’s how we’ve built our buildings and our society. Buildings aren’t designed to protect people from heat and sunlight, rather they are designed to be insulated,” Söderström said.

Swedish buildings are also unlikely to feature ceiling fans or air conditioning, which, coupled with the fact that many of them are well-insulated, means that it can be difficult to cool them down once they’re already hot.

‘Natural solutions are an important piece of the puzzle’

Sweco recently investigated how a number of different European cities, including Stockholm, could build heatwave resilience as climate change looks likely to increase their frequency. In Stockholm, the number of heatwave days per year is expected to increase by 150 percent by 2100, with similar figures for the other Scandinavian capitals Copenhagen (160 percent) and Oslo (140 percent).

“The increase in temperature is greater here [in the Nordic countries] and we have probably come the least far in planning for it. We’ve been more focused on protecting ourselves from the cold,” Söderström said. “If you look at Rotterdam and Brussels, for example, they’re further ahead both in measuring the heat and maybe also have a clearer plan of the measures they’re going to take to mitigate it.”

Sweden also has a lot of sunlight during the summer – Stockholm gets over 18.5 hours of sunshine around midsummer, Malmö in the south gets 17.5 hours, while in the far north of the country the sun doesn’t set for months. This means that temperatures often stay high during the night, providing fewer opportunities for people to recuperate from the heat and putting more stress on vulnerable individuals.

Cities are not designed with heat in mind, either, meaning that they often lack shade or trees, which contribute towards keeping temperatures low.

“Natural solutions are an important piece of the puzzle,” Söderström said.

“It’s important to get green and blue infrastructure into city planning. Trees are great, as they give shade and also they release water vapour into the air which has a cooling effect, and bodies of water can have the same cooling effect – when it’s cooler than the surrounding air, it helps to cool it down. So water, green solutions, proximity to parks and shade, all of those things are important to have in a city environment.”

People in cities are also more affected by heatwaves, Söderström added, as hard surfaces like asphalt, concrete and metal roofs absorb heat, further warming the air as this heat is emitted.

“It’s important to think about this when planning areas. Think about getting plants and water into urban areas, but also the materials being used.”

Sweden can learn a lot from hotter countries

Sweden has “a lot to learn” from countries which are used to warmer temperatures already, she added, saying that there’s no need to “reinvent the wheel”.

“Things like how to plan buildings and cities, lighter materials, how to place buildings to allow the wind to move through them, building covered verandas, providing shade, for example.”

Although children, the elderly and people with underlying health conditions are more susceptible to high temperatures, they are by no means the only groups to feel the consequences of prolonged heatwaves.

“These types of temperatures put stress on all aspects of society,” Söderström said. “It’s not just individuals who are particularly sensitive to heat, but it has consequences for the entire population. It affects agriculture, forestry and our ability to secure a steady supply of water.”

“We need to start thinking about how to protect society [against heatwaves] and plan ahead. Measure, get an idea of where risk areas are or how they come about, and make a long-term plan for them,” she added.

“It’s time to act now. This is going to continue for at least another eighty years and if we act now, we can adapt so our society and our cities are more resilient in the future.”

Do you come from somewhere with a warmer climate than Sweden? How do you find the heat here? Does it affect you more or less than it did back home? Let us know in the comments below.

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