Background
AMF Fastigheter is one of Sweden’s largest real estate companies, with 35 commercial properties in Stockholm and Sundbyberg. They own, develop, and manage some of Stockholm’s most attractive office spaces and retail locations- creating sustainable places where people want to be.
Recently, they relocated their headquarters to one of their own properties, the upscale shopping center Mood Stockholm. This relocation reflects their ambition to stay closer to their core focus: the city and its tenants—while fostering an open environment for dialogue and idea-sharing. The new office, covering approximately 1,400 square meters, is strategically divided into three key areas: a private office section, a collaborative workspace, and an open area that seamlessly links to the shopping center.
This is no ordinary office, and its uniqueness is evident from the moment you approach the entrance. The design, color scheme, and patterns are inspired by the changing seasons—Autumn, Spring, and Summer. And to further enrich the experience, they invited Efterklang to develop a sound design that complements each theme, blending functionality with creativity! Each theme has been meticulously crafted to foster a harmonious and welcoming environment for both employees and visitors alike.
Assignment
In today’s fast-paced and complex work environments, creating an ideal workspace goes beyond just providing the right tools and amenities. It requires deep understanding of how people engage with their surroundings, and how various factors can affect their performance and well-being. Sound, often an overlooked factor, plays a significant role in shaping one’s work experience.
AMF Fastigheter, however, did not overlook the importance of sound – instead, they partnered up with Efterklang to ensure their employees and visitors had an ideal environment designed to foster focus, comfort and creativity.
Result
We believe that sound is more than just a problem to be solved. The right sound in the right setting can improve both workplace ambience and well-being, and AMF Fastigheter’s new headquarter is a great example.
We wanted to complement and enhance the interior design and visual themes through sound design, because when we engage several senses at the same time, the overall experience becomes greater than the individual components.
Inspired by nature, the office features three seasonal themes: Autumn, Spring, and Summer, each brought to life with custom soundscapes from Efterklang.
Autumn offers a palette of rich tones and bold interiors. Together with Efterklang’s atmospheric sound design—suggestive beats inspired by classic dub techno matched with rustling leaves and distant sounds of nature—the space becomes both energetic and reflective, ideal for collaboration and social interaction.
Step into Spring, and be greeted by the freshness of new beginnings. Lush greenery and soft pastels, combined with light acoustic music and sound effects, evoking a sense of renewal and creativity, making it perfect for brainstorming and innovative thinking.
For Summer, we paired calming colors and subtle interiors with our proprietary nature sound masking system, designed for focused, individual work. This solution features subtle nature soundscapes, meticulously recorded in the serene deciduous forests of Sweden. The auditory experience mimics the sensation of being outdoors or opening a window to a tranquil forest, and masks distracting noises like conversations, keyboard typing, and footsteps, creating a peaceful, distraction-free environment. Research shows that nature sounds can reduce stress and enhance focus, making our soundscape both functional and soothing, improving concentration in a pleasant and effective way.
This playful synergy between visual components and tailored soundscapes runs throughout the whole office and enhances the overall experience.