In 2009, operations moved from Södermalm in Stockholm to a new, tailor-made building in the Larsberg area of Lidingö. Waiting in the beautiful library at Campus Lidingö are sisters Kerstin Skarne and Ann-Sofie Mattson, here to tell us about that journey. The library, bearing the name “Builder John Mattson’s library”, gathers literature on furniture, wood and design.
Builder John Mattson was the sisters’ father and one of the most influential people in Swedish construction in the latter half of the 20th century. In his honour, the sisters have set up the memorial foundation “Byggmästare John Mattsons minnesstiftelse för Carl Malmstens vid Linköpings universitet”, through which the above donation has become possible.
Jenny WidénDelighted to follow the students’ progress
The investments made have created a knowledge environment uniting research, craftsmanship and artistic creation – a combination that has characterised Malmstens since the start, and which has enabled new opportunities through donations.The sisters are convinced that their father would have appreciated the craftsmanship at Malmstens, and express their delight in following the students’ work and seeing them develop their skills. The donation also includes scholarships for outstanding students.
How the memorial foundation came to provide long-term support to Malmstens is a story in itself. Kerstin Skarne and Ann-Sofie Mattson tell us that they had a property in Vasastan, Stockholm, that was to be completely renovated. One of its tenants was the Nestor of Sweden’s cabinet-makers, Torsten Sylvén. He needed premises for his workshop for the duration of the renovation, and the CEO of the sisters’ company was asked if there was anything available in the property portfolio. At the same time, Malmstens’ contract for their cramped premises was terminated, which prompted the CEO to say: “Let’s build a new Malmstens school!” And so they did, on a plot in the Larsberg area in Lidingö that John Mattson had bought in the 1950s.
John Mattson Fastighets AB got to build the new school. In 2009, Malmstens moved from Stockholm to the specially designed house in Larsberg, that had premises adapted to its activities. Workshops, studios, laboratories and exhibition spaces had been created to fit the needs of the programmes. The festive opening ceremony was attended by, among others, Crown Princess Victoria.
First professor of furniture culture
In 2010, Johan Knutsson was inaugurated as Sweden’s first professor of furniture culture, a direct result of the donation from the memorial foundation, and something that has been of great importance for furniture research and education in Sweden. The professorship, linked to both Linköping University and the Nordiska museet, has given Malmstens students unique access to the museum’s extensive collections, as well as to its expertise and lectures.
Kerstin and Ann-Sofie speak warmly about Johan Knutsson, who has successfully driven development on all fronts. His research has spun threads between technology and aesthetics throughout history, between the reuse of shapes and the revival of old techniques.
Jenny WidénThe sisters also tell us that he was in favour of a certain degree of interdisciplinarity between the different programmes, and as for students’ degree projects, he has provided support for them to be able to write about and communicate about their degree projects.
Craftsmanship and modern technology
In 2023, as a result of another donation from Ann-Sofie Mattson and Kerstin Skarne, an advanced CNC milling machine was installed in the workshops. CNC stands for Computer Numerical Control. The computer-controlled milling machine gives students the opportunity to combine classical craftsmanship with modern technology used in the industry, which strengthens their competitiveness on their labour market.
The donations from the John Mattson memorial foundation are more than a monetary gift. They are an expression of gratitude, of heritage and of belief in the future, a bridge between generations. On Campus Lidingö, tradition meets renewal, thanks to the sisters’ willingness to let the memory of their father live on in knowledge, culture and furniture art.
