Designed by Ferdinand Boberg in 1906, the Central Post Office is a National Romantic landmark that has undergone several transformations over the years. Since 2013, it has housed a restaurant, but like many centrally located spaces today, it now stands empty—a forgotten gem in need of a new purpose. It’s a challenge we at White couldn’t resist. Just as we must safeguard our core values as a practice, we also need to adapt to an ever-changing world. Cities are in constant transformation—and as architects, we must be too.
Reimagining the Workplace in Malmö’s Historic Post Office
This summer, White Arkitekter is moving into the former premises of the Royal Post Office in Malmö. The journey is now beginning to transform the vacant restaurant space into a new kind of architecture office—one that fosters collaboration between people, businesses, and organisations shaping a creative and vibrant city.
Martina Davidsson, Volito Fastigheter, and Martin Sundberg, White Arkitekter
As we move into the former Royal Post Office, we are exploring what a new kind of architecture office could look like—in dialogue with other creative forces in Malmö and property owner Volito. We call it “reversible architecture”—meaning we will occupy the space as guests, leaving it better than we found it—without tearing out what already exists. The concept is adaptable, respects the building’s architecture, and supports creativity, innovation, and collaboration.
Our office will be a platform for exploratory meetings across our entire network. We are inspired by the act of inviting—and being inspired in return. Meeting people is one of the biggest reasons we go to the office today—social connections, the unexpected, exchanging experiences, knowledge-sharing, challenging ideas, testing concepts, staying informed, and sparking new discussions.”
Martin Sundberg, Office Director, White Arkitekter in Malmö
The Central Post Office was designated a State Heritage Building just 30 years after its completion. Any interventions we make must maintain a high architectural standard. When Ferdinand Boberg designed the building, he explored local materials and craft traditions. In the same spirit, we are now investigating locally sourced regenerative materials, site-specific architecture, and artisanal craftsmanship.
We will retain everything in the space. That means we—and our guests—will be working in the former restaurant kitchen, while the 11-metre-long bar—the heart of the space—becomes our gathering place. Here, we can engage the city in our work and create a meeting place for cross-sector collaboration.
How can an architecture office share space with a restaurant or other creative, public-facing businesses? These are the questions we are exploring—questions that we believe will lead to new ways of working and solutions we have yet to see. Ideas that will strengthen both us and the city of Malmö.
Interested in learning more? Get in touch!
