By embracing imperfections in leather and elevating the connection between humanity and nature, Elmo has been a core partner, together with interior designer Louise Hederström in creating a harmonious and inviting space in Hyllie Terrace.
Images by: Petra Bindel
Hyllie is a bustling area outside Malmö, Sweden, only twenty minutes from Copenhagen by train, and a rapidly growing neighborhood for retail, social events as well as offices. In the midst of it lies Hyllie Terrace—one of Sweden’s first and Skanska’s first climate neutral office building. Finished in 2023 it’s one of few projects to be certified both with SGBC’s LEED system and WELL, putting focus on the social aspects of sustainability.
A building as ‘green’ as Hyllie Terrace cuts no corners when it comes to architecture and interior design. Danish Cobe Architects were commissioned for the interior architecture and Swedish furniture producer Swedese has together with furniture designer Louise Hederström embarked on an innovative collaboration creating furniture from construction waste and discarded hides from Elmo, among other waste material.
The idea of creating something valuable and loved from waste came to Hederström in conversation with Swedese, both advocated for sustainability and upcycling. Things developed quickly with the interest from Skanska and project developer Åsa Johansson being onboard. The result is a series of unique furniture pieces place in the atrium of Hyllie Terrace. Hedvig Sönnerstedt, Nordic Key Account Manager at Elmo, worked closely with Hederström in finding the best and most suitable leather for the concept idea. Sönnerstedt, herself an advocate for natural beauty and the stories that automatically come with it, assisted in finding hides covered in beauty marks. Hides that otherwise would have been discarded for furniture production.
“On a human, like on a cow, life leaves its marks and traces, which tells a wonderful story. We have pigmentation spots, mosquito bites and scars. These hides stand for an authenticity and a connection to nature that we all seek,” Sönnerstedt emphasizes.
“On a human, like on a cow, life leaves its marks and traces, which tells a wonderful story. We have pigmentation spots, mosquito bites and scars. These hides stand for an authenticity and a connection to nature that we all seek”
“The goal was to create a space that feels alive and evolving, where wear and tear are seen as positive transformations within the materials”
With Hyllie Terrace, Hederström and Swedese demonstrate how to tell a real story through the use of leather. By redefining luxury through a sustainable and environmental point of view, Hyllie Terrace sets a new standard in interior design and it’s an invitation to embrace the art of circular living.
“The goal was to create a space that feels alive and evolving, where wear and tear are seen as positive transformations within the materials,” Hederström adds.
“It’s very cool to see the possibilities of how waste material can and should be used; by initiating this, Elmo has been able to recognize the beauty of sustainable design. In interior design projects like these, there’s always an upscaling of how we can use the material in a more sustainable way. The challenge is that it takes a little more time, costs a bit more in labor to source and manage the materials, but in the end, we believe that it will be possible to streamline the process. That’s where Elmo and I aligned,” Hederström finishes.
“It’s very cool to see the possibilities of how waste material can and should be used; by initiating this, Elmo has been able to recognize the beauty of sustainable design”
