20 January 2026
Svenska kraftnät is becoming one of the first public authorities in Sweden to fully apply the criteria of Hållbar Interiör, from design and planning to furniture and long-term management. The result is an office where up to 80% of the interior has been reused, local actors have been engaged for refurbishment, and sustainability becomes a clear quality marker as the Västerås office is planned to receive HI certification.
In spring 2025, Svenska kraftnät opened the doors to its new office in Västerås. The interior of the newly refurbished premises is characterised by reuse and clearly defined sustainability criteria, a deliberate effort to reduce climate impact and to work in a structured way using the Hållbar Interiör methodology.
During 2024–2025, Svenska kraftnät participated in the Vinnova-funded research project Hållbar Interiör. When adapting the new office in Västerås, the organisation chose to use the HI criteria as guidance throughout the entire process, from spatial planning and reuse to the selection of materials and furniture. The Västerås office thus serves as a concrete example of how HI can be applied in practice.
The new office, located on Kopparbergsvägen in central Västerås, covers approximately 2,000 square metres and accommodates around 150 workstations. The design was carried out by Link Arkitektur, and Svenska kraftnät’s in-house interior architect played a key role as a client-side requirements setter throughout the process. Having interior architecture expertise on the client side proved crucial in translating sustainability ambitions into concrete decisions and in ensuring that the HI criteria were implemented across design, procurement and facilities management.
The HI criteria have supported efforts to reduce the office’s CO₂ footprint and to push reuse further than is typically achieved.
“We hope this will inspire others to work with sustainability in a structured and concrete way, and that the HI certification will clearly demonstrate that we are serious about our climate goals,” says Pia Lahdenperä, senior interior architect SIR/MSA och project manager at SVK.
Photo: Johan Alp
Reuse and aesthetics hand in hand
Interior architects Anna Hansson and Petra Ivanov Samryd explain that the focus has been on preserving and enhancing what already existed. The overall spatial layout has largely been retained. Where new rooms were required, reused glass partitions were installed. Floors were preserved or complemented with reused textile tiles and CO₂-neutral linoleum. To improve acoustics and atmosphere, the glass walls in the central atrium were clad with hemp panels, a climate-negative material mounted with Velcro to allow easy relocation and future reuse.
A large proportion of the loose furniture consists of reused items. Many pieces were refurbished by a local joinery and upholsterer, reducing transport distances and contributing to a cohesive and sustainable solution. In certain parts of the project, Link estimates that up to 80% of the furniture is reused.
“The HI criteria aligned well with our ambitions and helped us stay on course while setting a high level of ambition,” write Anna Hansson and Petra Ivanov Samryd.
Structure and inspiration for others
The Västerås office demonstrates how clear criteria can be translated into real decisions. Through close collaboration with Link Arkitektur and by using HI as a practical tool, Svenska kraftnät has maximised reuse and created a carefully considered interior where high design quality and climate responsibility go hand in hand.
“We hope this will inspire others to work with sustainability in a structured and concrete way, and that the HI certification will clearly demonstrate that we are serious about our climate goals,” says Pia Lahdenperä.
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