5 trailblazing architectural treasures from Bruno Mathsson

If you’re eager to take a deep dive into the very core of Scandinavian interiors then you need to start with Bruno Mathsson. Arguably, it’s impossible to enter the realm without mentioning him. Born in 1907 in the picturesque town of Värnamo, this progressive creator rapidly transformed into one of Sweden’s most prominent furniture designers. We all know and love the timeless Grasshopper chair or the futuristic-style Jetson, both of which undoubtedly helped secure his pivotal position in the annals of Swedish design history.

While furniture design might have been his great love, Mathsson is equally admired for his architectural achievements. His pursuit of architectural design first kicked off back in 1948 when Mathsson and his wife Karin traveled to and around the United States. Numerous meetings with established creators and forward thinkers inspired Mathsson to follow his design dreams. When he returned to Sweden, architecture became one of his biggest focusses. And an overarching theme for all his designs spells perspective-altering takes on glass, together with innovative light play.

Here, Vogue Scandinavia looks back at five of Bruno Mathsson’s key architectural gems.

An early yet significant creation, Villa Prenker captures the fundamental core of Mathsson’s strong aesthetic profile as an architect. Located in Kungsör, this gleaming glass house, decked out in floor to ceiling windows, was originally created on request for fellow furniture designer Helge Prenker. Bathing in the majestic natural light that such a space captures, the spacious home embraces that outside-in feel like no other. Impressive lighting aside, Mathsson famously experimented with floor heating in order to boost warmth, essential for a freezing Scandinavian winter. We’re putting this on our dream home bucket list.

In popular summer hotspot Frösakull, best known for its idyllic beaches and proximity to local seaside spot Tylösand, you’ll come across a rather glorious design: Mathsson’s very own source of escapism. Surrounded by the tranquil nature, this unforgettable residence is really quite something – the perfect vacation bolthole. At Frösakull, natural surfaces marry with sleek lines, and the glass finish gives it a contemporary, modern feel, as if it was built recently. And in a nod to sustainable design, the “house of tomorrow”, as it was called by the maker himself, operates via solar energy.

In 1950, Mathsson explored a new dimension of architectural creation, constructing his first factory entirely made out of glass. The generous all-glass walls promote full transparency (literally and metaphorically) heavily juxtaposing traditional Scandinavian privacy. The space also boasts a brick fire wall and three walls that are constructed from triple-glazed windows. When it was first finished, this building caused quite the stir, suggesting new innovative ways to decorate with windows.

Mathsson’s permanent residency also marked one of his final projects of its kind in Sweden. By 1965, the designer had focussed once again on furniture design, and started considering a serious return to his original area of interest. Though he was strongly infatuated with L-shaped constructions, Mathsson opted to design a traditional rectangular shaped home. To infuse uplifting contrast, majestic emerald green hues were added through mosaic glass flooring. Similarly, the essence of green pays sophisticated homage to nature, celebrating its ethereal surroundings.

Following the success of his self-designed showroom, famous glassmaker Kosta Glasbruk reached out to Mathsson with a set vision – a flourishing exhibition space and simplistic townhouses, both to be designed in a futuristic style. While the exhibition space has been modified over the years, the townhouses remain identical to its original conception, still attracting plenty of tourists to this day. The hall, the living rooms and kitchen all feature mosaic floors, along with the bathroom and the entire space has underfloor heating too. Additionally, the impressive exhibition hall marks Mathsson’s very first architectural creation in glass.