Anders Berensson Architects

ReRug gives old office carpets, about to be thrown away simply because they are out of style, a new life. Old rugs can be hard to appreciate on their own, but as a group, these out-of-style carpets create a rather unique expression—too much fun to simply throw away.

The rug is designed and built by students from the KTH School of Architecture, Master Studio Fabulous Future Factory, co-founded and directed by Anders Berensson & Karin Matz, in collaboration with Fabege, Spring 2026.

Tenant adaptations are some of the most common construction projects in the industry and make up a large part of the work we architects do. Even though these projects often involve fairly simple structures and rarely have to deal with weather conditions, there is still very little reuse happening in this part of the field. We tend to stick to the way things have always been done.

Reusing materials can be tricky. It raises questions about room specifications, warranties and responsibilities. It is usually easier to work with new products, even though reused materials can be just as good, and often cheaper.

Another important factor is the expectation of freshness. Few people want to move into a space that feels old or tired. The feeling of something being new, fresh and working smoothly should not be underestimated—especially in offices or commercial spaces that might not have strong architectural features to offer.

These days, many offices look very similar, with the same ceiling heights, mouldings and acoustic ceiling panels. In many cases, one of the few things that can make a space stand out is that feeling of freshness. This means that reused materials need to be handled in a way that keeps the space looking vibrant and appealing.

Branding is another important factor. Companies naturally want to show off their brand, often against a simple backdrop that allows their products to stand out. But the changes one tenant makes to highlight their brand rarely fit the preferences of the next tenant.

A good example is Telia’s former offices at the Mall of Scandinavia. Telia, the former Swedish telecom provider, had a very distinct colour profile—orange, green and purple carpets that clearly said “Telia” about 15 years ago. Now, Telia has moved out, leaving thousands of square metres of branded carpets behind.

The challenge was simple: could these carpets be given a new life? Could they be mixed into new patterns and given a second chance? Could we turn them into something fresh, exciting and functional instead of throwing them away?