HTDSTUDIO was engaged to assess and provide design input for a project honoring the legacy of Swedish painter Per Leander Engström. The studio’s involvement focused on conceptualizing spaces that reflect Engström's expressionist style and connection to the Norrland wilderness. This included curating environments inspired by his artistic themes and ensuring historical and cultural sensitivity in the design process.

About the artist-

Per Leander Engström (1886–1927) was a Swedish painter known for his vibrant expressionist paintings of the Norrland wilderness. He was born on February 27, 1886, in Ytterhogdal, Sweden. Engström studied art at the Artists' Association School (Konstnärsförbundets skola) in Stockholm from 1907 to 1908, and later in Paris under Henri Matisse between 1909 and 1910. While in Paris, he was influenced by artists such as Paul Gauguin, Vincent van Gogh, and Paul Cézanne.

Engström was part of the artist group "De Unga" ("The Young Ones"), who applied expressionist techniques to Swedish motifs. He frequently traveled through the Norrland mountains, painting outdoors to capture the region's landscapes. One of his favorite locations was Abisko, where he built a small house for his artistic retreats.

In the early 1920s, Engström spent time in Italy, living in Florence from 1920 to 1923. This period broadened his artistic focus, and he began incorporating new subjects into his work. He also painted ceiling murals for Skandia-Teatern, one of Stockholm's early movie theaters.

Engström married Maria Edlund in 1913, and they had twin sons, Kjell and Tord, who also became painters. He passed away on February 6, 1927, in Stockholm after a long illness. He was buried at Skogskyrkogården.

His works are part of the collections of several major Swedish museums, including Moderna Museet, Nationalmuseum, Prins Eugens Waldemarsudde, and the Gothenburg Museum of Art.

Client: Withheld| Location: Abisko, Sweden | Total Floor Area: 21,000 ft2/1994m2 | Budget: withheld | Status: Concept

Concept Design : Sandbergs x HTDSTUDIO: Carl-William Sandberg, Howard Duffy, Collaborators, 2023-2024