Ark, 2021-01-01
Why we’re true to the 70s – meet A house creative director Richard Hammarskiöld
Brutalism, concrete and an old School of Architecture. There are many out there who wrinkle their noses at the mere sight of the concrete block that has occupied an entire block in Östermalm since 1969. A house members do not seem to share that view. Many say that the best thing about brutalist concrete is that it doesn’t embellish, a kind of counterweight to perfection that offers a liberating sense of truth. Many also see A house as a given backdrop for artistic expression, creative flow, and a community where people think freely together. What is it that makes many people hate concrete, while a certain type of people can’t get enough and seem to be endlessly inspired by this style? I meet our creative director Richard Hammarskiöld, whose weakness for the 70s and the brutal expression is total.
Richard, how is Brutalism interesting from an innovation perspective?
Brutalism lets function and technology be the pure design. A clarification, but at the same time a way of subordinating people in space. It is a fine democratic idea that does not compete but provides maximum space for innovation and development.
At A house there are 7 principles, one of which is “space follows process”, explain!
Innovation and development take place in different phases with different physical needs. Everything from concentration to creative environments that are very permissive. We have developed a variety of environments that meet these needs and it is great to see how many creative ways our rooms are used.
“We seek the simple, the authentic and are fed up with the crazy designed environments”
A significant amount of furniture classics from the 70s have landed at A house thanks to you, how important is design to the experience and function?
The building is an iconic blue-classified building (Blue-classified = buildings of particularly high cultural and historical value) and a typical child of its time. A time of liberation, experimentation and high qualities in design/architecture. To accentuate the house, the basic ideas and create a clear identity, I try to be faithful to the 70s. There is so much fine Swedish and international furniture design from that time so it is just a pleasure to be faithful to this.
Why do you think A House members are drawn to brutalism, while others find it ugly?
Brutalism has had a revival – many have rediscovered its clear ideas about democracy and sustainability (even if concrete is not quite pk today ; ). We are looking for the simple, authentic and are tired of the crazy-designed environments that are more inhibiting than developing. Environments where we are often forced to subordinate ourselves to an ambitious design – how fun and developing is it in the long run? Then it’s a matter of taste – I myself have always admired this house that makes no apologies in the middle of this bourgeois epicenter.