Luxembourg based company Skype, founded in 2003 by Niklas Zennström from Sweden and Janus Friis from Denmark, was valued earlier this year by Microsoft at $8.5bn. With close to 700 million users, the world’s leading peer to peer communications company has set countless new standards in innovation and technological development.  

Formerly housed at its Slussen offices, Skype only had room for 35 employees so a new space was desperately needed. PS Arkitektur were commissioned to create a space that mirrors the Skype brand’s playful spirit and its mission to connect the world.

Meeting rooms no longer feel like the traditional interrogation rooms of old and appear in a variety of styles, colours and shapes with individual ambient atmospheres designed to appeal to all areas of the creative mind.

PS Arkitektur work with a broad range of projects ranging from urban planning to buildings and commercial interiors. Their aim is to create unique buildings and interiors that speak for themselves.

The new site takes over one of Stockholm’s most iconic buildings, the München Brewery. Built in 1846 as a clothing factory, the building became Sweden’s largest brewery in 1857 and operated as a brewery until 1971.

The offices have room for up to 100 staff. The design is based on the spirit of Skype, mirroring the companies ethos as an essential, functional and playful tool that is connecting the world.

PS Arkitektur Head designer Mette Larsson-Wedborn, along with team members Peter Sahlin, Thérèse Svalling, Beata Denton and Erika Janunger,  wanted the offices to reflect the companies place as a leader in innovation, whilst retaining its european heritage.

“We reveal the potential, visualize the hidden and suggest improvements. Architecture and design is a means of competition that creates withstanding value. In cooperation with the client we define the specifications and goals of the project in order to create a design that communicates and strengthens the client´s identity.”

The team set about sourcing all interior furnishing from across Europe. For the soft, round furnishings the went to Blå station. The larger, subtle green seating came from Offecct and poufs and sofas came form Johanson design. All the white chairs and barstools came direct from Crassevig and the conference seating is all Arper, with the workstations created by Martela. Adding to this Euro design vision PS Arkitektur decided to custom design additional pieces of furniture and collaborate with Olle Lindelöf to stamp their own statement on Skype’s space. To set the tone in the space they went to Stockholm’s own lighting guru’s, Foscarini/Diesel, Zero and Fagerhult.

The new site takes over one of Stockholm’s most iconic buildings, the München Brewery. Built in 1846 as a clothing factory, the building became Sweden’s largest brewery in 1857 and operated as a brewery until 1971.

To reflect the innovative and playful Skype brand the designers used round shapes, fun light fixtures and bright-color furnishings in an otherwise almost completely white space. The rounded shapes of the furnishings and cloud-like lights speak the same language as Skype’s rounded font and cloud logo. The custom-made wallpaper depicts the audio and video world of the staff, but takes it another stage further. The space harnesses the latest in audio and video developments with cables and access points embedded in the custom made wallpaper that are all linked to audio-video outputs throughout the office.

Meeting rooms no longer feel like the traditional interrogation rooms of old and appear in a variety of styles, colours and shapes with individual ambient atmospheres designed to appeal to all areas of the creative mind.

PS Arkitektur specialise in interior and architectural design. Their strength is taking overall responsibility for the project throughout the process – from conceptual sketches to finalised product, combining their knowledge and experience with that of the other collaborators.

The München Brewery space has been transformed with an approach more suited to cutting edge gaming companies than a traditional telephony company. The colourful rainbow approach, with its stunning murals, playful furnishings and high tech features are expertly juxtaposed against the stark white walls to create a functional space designed with the needs of the employees first.

PS Arkitektur believe their job is to “enhance our clients image and business capacity through innovative architecture and design. Our motto is ‘Architecture for change.”

Skype may be revolutionizing the way we communicate, but in collaborating with PS Arkitektur they’ve connected with pure creativity and design excellence to revolutionize the working environment, with spectacular results!