Yllw Factory x Studio Navet
When Folksam Fastigheter set out to create a shared meeting place for the tenants of Kv. Ormen Större at Mariatorget, Studio Navet was commissioned to develop the concept and interior design. Yllw Factory and Yllw became involved early in the project, contributing reused furniture, bespoke joinery and production expertise.
CO2e savings: 4.23 tonnes
A meeting place with history
The ambition was to create a social environment with a high level of design and a strong focus on reuse. The result is Publique Social Club, a shared floor where tenants can meet, work and socialise. The name is a nod to the building's history as a PUB department store branch on Södermalm.
The Arriba lounge chair from Kinnarps, reupholstered in the upholstery workshop at Yllw Factory. Beside it are low room dividers produced by our carpentry workshop.
Honouring the building's heritage
The building was designed by architect Hakon Ahlberg and inaugurated in 1924. It was once home to a tea room, which became an important source of inspiration in shaping the new environment. Studio Navet’s concept brings together historical references with contemporary functions and material choices.
The conference chairs were originally upholstered in a patterned green and purple fabric that was both worn and difficult to repurpose. In our upholstery workshop, they were reupholstered in Elmosoft 93287 leather.
Close collaboration
The project began with a workshop at Yllw Factory’s facility in Dalby, where ideas, materials and opportunities for reuse were explored together. Throughout the process, Yllw Factory and Yllw worked closely with Studio Navet to develop furniture, material solutions and bespoke joinery.
The Conference Chair 77 from Lammhults was reupholstered in Perla fabric from Kvadrat.
We had the privilege of working together with Yllw Factory, Yllw, our client Newsec and Folksam, as well as KLS Arkitekter, on a project where the ambitions were high from the outset, both in terms of sustainability and user experience. Early in the process, we established a vision centred around reuse and the Social Club concept, a direction that was embraced and ultimately shaped the entire project. The work began with a joint kick-off in Dalby, including a furniture inventory and a tour of the carpentry, upholstery and restoration workshops, providing a strong foundation for the project moving forward. Through close collaboration with the knowledgeable team at Yllw Factory and Yllw, we were able to make quick decisions and received valuable guidance throughout the process. The result is a contemporary social space designed to accommodate all types of meetings, shaped by craftsmanship and a genuine commitment to reuse. We are grateful for a rewarding and long-term collaboration.
New upholstery, new expression
Almost all furniture in the project has been reused. Existing lounge chairs, sofas and other upholstered pieces were reupholstered and refurbished using stock fabrics and deadstock textiles. This gave the furniture a new lease of life while preserving a significant amount of material.
Bespoke carpentry & upcycling
The bespoke carpentry follows the same principles. The bookcases were built from reclaimed tabletops sourced from former conference tables, while the coffee table was crafted from a solid ash tabletop that had previously served another purpose. The curtains were made from reclaimed textiles, further reinforcing the project's circular ambition.
Shown here are the custom-built bookcases, alongside leather-upholstered sofas where the steel frames were refinished.
The coffee table was upcycled from a 3.5 metre long solid ash tabletop that had been stored in our warehouse. Following their visit to our factory, Studio Navet shared their design with our carpentry workshop, where the tabletop was cut into smaller sections and transformed into a new coffee table.
Several Butterfly chaise longues from Källemo were reupholstered in both velvet and leather. Also shown here is the long tabletop that was transformed into a coffee table.
The collaboration between Studio Navet, Yllw and Yllw Factory was smooth from start to finish. Yllw Factory offered a strong selection of furniture and made it easy to find the right balance between design and functionality. The flexibility in financing, storage and delivery times was a clear strength and made the project easier to manage in practice. Deliveries were also reliable throughout the process. Yllw Factory stands out in particular through its ability to reupholster and reuse furniture. This results in a lower CO₂ footprint while maintaining the desired look and feel. Overall, it was a highly successful collaboration from our perspective as the property owner.
Do you also want to create a workplace with reused furniture?
We help companies and organisations create workplaces with reused furniture, bespoke joinery and circular solutions. Regardless of the scope of the project, we are involved from idea to completed interior.
We supplied the dining area with wooden chairs that were both refinished and re-caned in our workshops.
