From Construction Waste to Furniture at Embassy of Sharing
In a circular collaboration between Swedese, the property development company Granitor Properties, and Addentity Interiör, old framing lumber and rough pieces of cross-laminated timber have been transformed into furniture for the new Embassy of Sharing district in Malmö.
Embassy of Sharing is a brand-new district in Malmö designed by Wingårdhs Architects. It features seven unique buildings—some are offices, others are residential. What they have in common is a strong focus on sustainability.
In the office building called Drivbänken, Swedese, together with property development company Granitor Properties and Addentity Interior, used construction waste to create new furniture.
“Working with leftover materials challenged us to think differently—the design was shaped by the material rather than the material being adapted to a predetermined idea. We wanted to create products that clearly reveal their origin and let the material show itself without being overly processed,” says Amanda Modée Brink, interior designer at Addentity Interior.
Spruce studs used in building the new houses were cleaned of nails, screws, and concrete at Swedese’s factory in Småland. They were then cut and transformed into sleek bar stools.
Leftover, rough pieces of cross-laminated timber (CLT) used in the supporting structure of the neighboring building Fyrtornet were cut and sanded in Småland to become elegant benches with built-in handles.
Creating furniture from leftover materials requires high craftsmanship. You have to adapt to the limitations of the materials while maintaining strict aesthetic and functional standards.
“I believe it’s this hard work, the many decisions, compromises, and possibilities that make people connect with this type of interior. It feels authentic. It demonstrates creativity, courage, and great craftsmanship,” says Linus Davidsson, Business Area Manager at Swedese Repair.
The craftsmanship and sophisticated simplicity that define Swedese are clearly reflected in the sleek furniture now adorning the office building Drivbänken.
A spruce tree typically grows for 50–80 years before it’s cut down and turned into a construction stud. Sometimes the stud is only used temporarily in a building project, after which it is sent for incineration. In this project, we chose a different path.
“By upcycling leftover materials and creating furniture, we extend the lifecycle by at least 50 years, thereby honoring both the material’s origin and its future. Reuse is not a limitation—it’s an opportunity,” says Linus Davidsson, Swedese Repair.
Reuse is not a limitation—it’s an opportunity
Sustainability is also highly visible in Drivbänken’s meeting rooms, dining area, and lounge spaces. Here, used Swedese chairs have been renovated and reupholstered through the company’s Swedese Repair service. The dining room features restored dining tables, and in the lounge areas, you’ll find coffee tables and ottomans that are pre-owned and refurbished.
“Our focus is sustainable urban development, and Embassy of Sharing is one of the places where we take this to the next level. Working with reused interiors is a natural step in our work. What’s especially exciting is seeing how we, as developers, influence many others in the chain. Now, most of our tenants actively work with reuse,” says Maria Ekström, Business Manager at Granitor Properties.
