Office for Higab in Gothenburg

Higab’s office premises at Åvägen 17 in Gothenburg have now been fully renovated. This interdisciplinary interior design project, which placed sustainability and circularity at the forefront, saw the creation of an interior design inspired by the city’s historic buildings.

Interdisciplinary interior design in historic building

When Higab planned the renovation and adaptation of its offices in 2023, White Arkitekter was brought in to provide a range of expertise, including interior design, architecture, lighting design, construction management, and accessibility.

From the outset, both Higab and White Arkitekter had high ambitions for reuse, aiming to achieve as much recycled content as possible and minimise new construction. By the project’s completion, 93% of the office’s interior was reused, resulting in a savings of 44 tonnes of CO2.

Client: Higab AB
Place: Gothenburg, Sweden
Status: Completed in 2024
Size/area: 2 000 sqm
Photo: Krister Engström

The aim was to create a sustainable environment that better supports the company's needs and workflow, with more flexible open areas for collaboration and smaller spaces for individual work and discussion.

Inspiration from our architectural heritage

Higab owns and manages some of Gothenburg’s most iconic and important architectural heritage. This was a key inspiration in shaping the office interiors, with design elements drawn from five of Higab’s renowned buildings: Åvägen 17, Feskekôrka, Gathenhielmska huset, Dicksonska palatset, and Slakthuset.

The colour scheme, in refined, earthy tones, was thoughtfully allocated across the office’s various spaces. Lighter shades were applied to open work areas to enhance optimal working conditions, while darker, bolder tones were introduced in meeting rooms to create a warm, inviting atmosphere. The colour palette shifts across the different floors, tailored to the unique conditions of layout and natural light availability on each level.

The design concept permeates the entire project, down to the smallest details. The five building silhouettes are also represented in a stylised foil detailing on walls throughout the premises.

To succeed with a reuse project of this nature, it is crucial to identify which elements have the greatest impact in reducing carbon emissions and to work from that basis. It is also essential to remain responsive to opportunities for sourcing the right reuse products with the appropriate function, at the right time.

Elin Hultman, architect

A substantial portion of Higab’s existing inventory could be reused without modification, while some elements were reupholstered or refinished. Glass partitions and doors for smaller dialogue rooms were also sourced as reused items. Where additional furniture and fittings were required, they were procured through the subcontractor Rekomo, which specialises in reused office furnishings. In cases where reuse was not feasible, newly produced items with minimal environmental impact were selected.

Achieving a cohesive design, when the majority of the furnishings are reused and not pre-determined in detail, demands a flexible and courageous design concept. I am proud that, in collaboration with Higab and Rekomo, we succeeded in attaining a high degree of reuse despite the complexity of the project.

Annie Leonsson, interior architect

By promoting a circular mindset, we aim to reduce our climate impact and contribute to more sustainable property management. We view this as a step toward creating even more sustainable workplaces, where we hope to set a benchmark for what office spaces can become.

Linda Malm, Head of Customer and Internal Services, and Project Lead at Higab