Emerging from the tranquil meadow in the Swedish county Halland lies Restaurang ÄNG, neighboring and integrated into the local vineyard Ästad. Norm Architects realized a custom-designed interior design concept characterized by a selection of natural and refined materials.

Inviting the Swedish local scenery surrounding Restaurang ÄNG inside the modern greenhouse, Norm Architects created a calm and tranquil retreat that merges the existing rural architectural principles with the more contemporary experience of ÄNG.

“We believe that all sensory experiences are connected. In many ways, it always comes down to the atmosphere. It’s not enough to cook great food – the staging of the food, whether it’s the architecture, the nature that surrounds you or the plate you eat from. Whether it’s the smell of the room or the acoustics – they are all just as important for your experience of the food as the dish itself.”
- Norm Architects

The new restaurant ÄNG is located in a newly built, solitary, lush greenhouse in the middle of a meadow, where dinner will be served in different stages. Comprising a bar and lounge area on the ground floor as well as a wine cellar, dining area and wine lounge on the basement level, the goal was to create an elevated experience around food and wine, adding to the sensory experience of Swedish haute cuisine. 

Thanks to the window facades of the greenhouse that allow for natural sunlight to enter and a panoramic view of the Swedish landscape and lakes surrounding the premises, the rural scenery is mirrored in Norm Architects’ choice of materials. 

“The overall vision has been to create a modern interpretation of the spirit of the place. You’re out in the middle of Swedish nature on a former farm. Still, we wanted to create an elevated and refined experience around the food. We strived to strike a balance between the rural and local on the one hand, and the refined and elevated on the other. Therefore, we worked with natural materials that have been slightly refined or processed to make them more delicate. It’s turned out as a blend of Haute Cuisine and country idyll – just like the food.”
- Norm Architects

Selecting natural materials, such as pure oak for the bespoke furniture items, canvas wall panels or stone flooring, all materials have been slightly refined or processed to make them more delicate. Dinesen, Denmark’s leading manufacturer of exclusive flooring, provided its high quality wooden planks for the floors and part of the wall cladding at ÄNG. 

In finding a balance between the rural and local on the one side, and the refined and elevated on the other, this new, extensive Karimoku case study dwells on the interplay of nature and culture, capturing the spirit of the unique locus and allowing for an extraordinary hospitality experience.

The philosophy of material richness also lies at the core of Karimoku’s brand identity. The new furniture items specifically designed by Norm Architects and Keiji Ashizawa Design for this case study as well as a vast number of existing pieces from the Karimoku collections that were chosen for Restaurang ÄNG illustrate the craftsmanship of the artisans of Karimoku Furniture as well as the deep understanding for the material properties of wood.

Based on Japanese and Scandinavian design principles of soft minimalism and timeless aesthetics, the new delicate bespoke furniture items and accessories are all made of Japanese oak and are being used throughout the various areas of ÄNG.

Since its opening in 2019, ÄNG has refined its concept of only using produce from local farms, forests, waters, and meadows around the Halland landscape and was awarded its first Michelin star in 2021 as well as the guide’s green star for extraordinary practices regarding sustainability.

Together with a local Swedish vineyard at Ästad, Norm Architects developed a refined interior with a familiar yet captivating atmosphere that provides a spatial framework for the impressive dinner experience around modern Scandinavian cuisine and local Swedish wine offered at ÄNG.

With the new interior design concept for the Swedish restaurant ÄNG, Karimoku has successfully completed its sixth case study, continuing the collaboration with Norm Architects and Keiji Ashizawa Design. With inspiration found in both the unspoiled Nordic nature surrounding the premises of ÄNG and Japanese sensibilities in design aesthetics and craftsmanship, the new interior of ÄNG provides a holistic, sensory experience that refines the culinary offering and reflects the identity of the restaurant.