Stockholm’s National Museum has doubled its visitor numbers
since reopening its doors last year. Proof, if it were needed, that
the historic art and design destination’s £104 million renovation
has been a roaring success. Swedish architecture practice Wingårds
and restoration specialist Erik Wikerstãl led the project –
a collaboration, they say, that ‘turned out better than anyone
could have imagined’. Striking a balance between preserving and
modernising, the space honours architect Friedrich August
Stüler’s original design while simultaneously becoming one of the
world’s most technologically advanced museums – think state-of-
the-art climate control and acoustic-attenuating stucco surfaces.
As well as revolutionising the building, the work has also
changed the way the collections are presented. Exhibition space
has been increased (there are three times more artefacts ondisplay than before), the courtyards have been opened up and
given Pompidou-esque glass roofs, while the façade has been
refitted with the same local Borghamm limestone Stüler used in- ‘Now, more than 5,000 works of art and design are displayed
on a timeline from the 16th century to the present,’ explains
Susanna Pettersson, the museum’s director general.
To complete the modernisation, more than 30 designers and 20
brands collaborated on pieces to complete the restaurant’s new
look – almost all are available to buy. TAF Studio designed the
‘Atelier’ chair for Artek (above left), Örsjö Belysning and The Glass
Factory made lights, Chris Martin and Mass Productions created
the ‘Draft’ tables, and the covetable tableware is courtesy of
Carina Seth Andersson and Design House Stockholm. The result
is a celebration of modern Scandi design (nationalmuseum.se).
The ‘Kolonn’ vase by Carina Seth
Andersson decorates the restaurant’s
tables. Produced by Swedish
glassworks Skruf, it is available at
Artilleriet. From £29 (artilleriet.se)MODERN ARTEFACTS Take home a piece of the museum, with these specially designed buys
Made from simple bent and
varnished beech, the stackable
‘Avavick’ stool is by Katja
Pettersson for Swedese. £402,
Inform (informfurniture.co.uk)‘Museum’ by TAF Architects
for String is a neat shelf that’s
perfect for displaying objets
d’art or as a bedside table.
£145, Utility (utilitydesign.co.uk)
WORDS: ALEX MOORE PICTURES: NATIONAL MUSEUM/BRUNO EHRS/PIA ULIN
Diners at the National Museum will
fall for the clean lines of the ‘Ehra’
cutlery by design studio Note and
Gense. £237 for a 16-piece set,
Royal Design (royaldesign.co.uk)AUGUST 2019 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 51TRENDS