Spaces for life’s phases - where function meets feeling
Designing a hospital isn’t just about functionality. It is about people. About ordinary days and extraordinary moments, vulnerability and hope. In 2024, Arctic Import had the privilege of furnishing the new cafeteria at Landssjúkrahúsið, creating a space meant to embrace it all.
The brief was to craft a cafeteria where patients, relatives, and staff can find calm, connection, and a pause from the hospital’s brisk rhythm. It had to be a place where a meal, a cup of coffee, or a quiet moment folds naturally into the larger experience. To that end, we installed sofa zones for private conversations and reflection, as well as a play area with petite playhouses where children can feel safe and glimpse a touch of normality, even in difficult times.
Both the sofas and the playhouses were custom-made for this project. The sofas were produced at a special height, tested and approved to accommodate bariatric patients, ensuring comfort and safety. The playhouses pick up on the building’s architectural design, and add a comforting, playful touch to the room.
Every piece of furniture was selected in harmony with the cafeteria’s bright, open architecture, conceived by architect Nina A. Arge. Her vision set the direction for the interior; a vision Arctic Import was delighted to support through our deliveries and our role as trusted collaborator in developing interior design. All along, the interplay of furniture, architecture, and user experience has been central.
At Arctic Import we collaborate closely with architects and suppliers, each a specialist in their field, so we can guarantee both quality and functionality in what we deliver. We listen, give clear advice, and find the best match - and, in this case, to help create a warm, functional space at the heart of the hospital, where everyday life unfolds.
