World of Volvo

• Architecture Henning Larsen
• Photography Rasmus Hjortshoj

A new landmark on Gothenburg’s skyline, World of Volvo is as much a celebration of Swedish nature and culture as it is a showcase of innovative timber architecture. Designed by Henning Larsen, this 20,500 m² experience centre reimagines how architecture can connect people with place — its circular form and towering timber columns offering a warm, organic embrace in the heart of the city’s event district.

At its core, the design draws inspiration from Allemansrätten — Sweden’s “right to roam” — inviting visitors to flow freely between indoor and outdoor spaces. The building’s glulam and cross-laminated timber structure, arranged in three monumental, tree-trunk-like columns, evokes a forest canopy, sheltering a dynamic cultural hub that encourages exploration and connection.

Inside, versatility reigns. Expansive exhibition spaces, cultural venues, and informal gathering zones support Volvo’s vision of a meeting place for a better future — a space where past, present, and future innovations are on show. For these social settings, the choice of furniture was crucial: it needed to reflect the architecture’s fluidity, its respect for materiality, and its human-centred ethos.

Enter BOB by Blå Station — a modular seating system as adaptable and inviting as World of Volvo itself. With its softly contoured, interlinking modules, BOB defines spaces without imposing on them. Whether forming intimate breakout areas or generous serpentine arrangements, BOB mirrors the building’s natural rhythm, supporting the ebb and flow of visitors throughout the centre.

Henning Larsen’s team, together with Blå Station, carefully curated configurations that complement the timber interior — BOB’s sculptural presence enhancing the sense of warmth and tactility within the vast volumes of the space. The result is furniture that not only provides comfort but strengthens the dialogue between architecture, landscape, and community.

Here, timber’s age-old appeal meets the precision of modern digital design. A parametric approach guided every curve and connection, enabling the timber structure to be optimised for strength and material efficiency while preserving the poetic vision of a building grown from its landscape. The same spirit of innovation and respect for materiality underpins the selection of BOB, reinforcing a cohesive experience where architecture, furniture, and Swedish identity unite.