Client projects: Tullgatan 40 care home

In Öland, among the oaks and fruit trees in the Ekbacka park area in Borgholm, you can now find a brand new care home. Since the inauguration in February 2024, the 80 spacious apartments at Tullgatan 40 have begun to fill with residents with cognitive impairment or dementia. Kinnarps was given the opportunity to help realise the vision of an indoor environment where the needs of those being cared for are at the centre.

Quality becomes sustainability

In order to cope with the increasing needs for elderly care, it was a necessity to build this new care home in Borgholm Municipality. The accommodation was built with the vision of caring for residents in their home. When it came to furnishing the accommodation, Borgholm Municipality turned to Kinnarps.

Quality was already a major factor in the planning phase. From early on, both Borgholm Municipality and property manager BJC Group understood the importance of not compromising on quality in such a large investment as Tullgatan 40. Fredrik Lundgren, project manager at BJC Group, explains their thought process:  

"We wanted to create an environment that stands the test of time from every possible perspective. As a property manager, I prefer to invest in an interior design solution that has long-term sustainability from the outset to avoid future costs and burdening the environment when it fails or needs to be replaced. That’s why Kinnarps was the obvious choice – I see their brand as being synonymous with quality and sustainability."

Design with a purpose

Tullgatan 40 is home to people with cognitive impairment and dementia. Among other things, these types of mental disabilities can affect how one perceives their physical environment. For example, some patterns can be perceived as crawling insects, and a dark carpet as a deep hole in the floor. As we get older, our perception of colour also changes and we find it harder to see certain colours. So when a reference group from Borgholm Municipality was tasked with reviewing which interior design solutions would support the newly built housing, there was a lot to consider.

At Kinnarps’ showroom in Kalmar, they received guidance on the choice of interior design, materials and colours. In order to realise the vision of caring for the resident in their home environment, they strove to create a warm and cosy feeling. But not at the expense of functionality that would make everyday life easier for both residents and staff.

Warm, cosy and functional

Based on the vision of cosy and functional living, Kinnarps developed a proposal for an interior design solution. An interior design in natural materials and tactile surfaces that do not feel cold to the touch create a homely feel. Removable and washable upholstery makes the furniture easier to maintain and improves hygiene in care environments. Clear contrasts in the interior design create peace of mind for the residents by making navigation easier. 

The interior design proposal was well received by both the project manager and the reference group. Monika Krantz, unit manager at Tullgatan 40, also emphasises that Kinnarps really listened to their needs throughout the entire process, and that they developed an interior design solution that effectively meets the needs of residents, staff and relatives. "The interior is not only nice, but functional! This is a big change that every one of us – staff, residents and visitors – absolutely loves!" she says.

Spaces that foster community

In order to create a sense of security and community in the accommodation, they prioritised making joint activities possible. To support everything from relaxing in front of the TV to game nights and exercise, different types of spaces were created.

The social spaces were designed to mimic the environments where we connect and socialise in our homes. Furniture in solid wood and veneer, and plants and textiles in warm tones were used to achieve the homely feeling. To not compromise functionality, the seating furniture used is both comfortable and easy to get out of. 

Many different types of activities take place in the activity rooms at Tullgatan 40, making it important that the interior design can easily be changed. By furnishing them with foldable tables on castors and stackable chairs, it is easy for staff to customise the room for the activity at hand. Whether it’s bingo, movies, live music or exercise.

Close cooperation yielded great results

Thanks to the close and well-functioning collaboration between Borgholm Municipality, property manager BJC Group and Kinnarps, the vision of a homely and functional care home became a reality. Project Manager Fredrik Lundgren feels confident about the future, knowing that he has invested in long-term sustainable spaces from the outset.