A couple of weeks ago, we announced that we’re moving to our new office Eden in April 2020. But why did the choice ultimately fall on Eden and Möllan?
We sat down with our MD David Polfeldt to talk about how we can help drive positive change in Malmö, industrial romanticism, and what he’s most looking forward to with the move.
Ever since Massive bought Eden in 2016, the work with our new home has been undergoing in one way or another. But how did we end up at Möllan, and why Eden in particular?
“It was a pretty simple process, to be honest,” says David Polfeldt, MD, as we sit down in his office in the Red Building on Drottninggatan. Outside his office, blueprints for Eden’s planned layout are pinned to the wall.
What ultimately led to the choice of Möllan was the fact that many in our Massive family live in and move around that area.
“After understanding our needs as a studio – like how big of an office we actually need – we identified three different areas in Malmö where we saw opportunities: Hyllie, Västra Hamnen, and Möllan.”
But what ultimately led to the choice of Möllan was the fact that many in our Massive family live in and move around that area. It is also central and easy to get to by foot, bike or bus and train, which goes hand in hand with our goal to be as sustainable as possible in as many ways as we can.
On the table in front of David lies a bike map of Malmö. Red, intricate lines mark the bike lanes, showing the many options for biking to and from Möllan from almost every direction of the city.
“In many ways, Eden’s location is better than the one we have today,” he says.
Finding where we belong in Malmö
The process of choosing Möllan and Eden also became a maturity process of sorts for Massive as a company. During the process, we had the opportunity to find our identity and see where our self-image belongs in Malmö.
“We just had this sense of feeling at home at Möllan. The dynamic, international, and colorful environment there suits us so well – there is so much life there.”
Eden, much like our current main office at Drottninggatan, is a red brick building with a lot of history.
Eden, much like our current main office at Drottninggatan, is a red brick building with a lot of history. Built in the late 19th century, the building first housed a textile factory, where thread, yarn, and buttons were manufactured.
This old industrial history was always in the back of the mind when choosing of Eden, since – as David describes it – Ubisoft has a penchant for old, red brick buildings.
There is a certain charm in bringing an old building to life again.
“There is a certain charm in bringing an old building to life again. It is beautiful, and we’re keeping as much of the old as possible, especially when it comes to the outside. There are many people here who – just like me – have a fondness for industrial romanticism, and for that reason, Eden is just perfect. There is no other place in Malmö like it that can suit our needs that well.”
“I embrace change”
Personally, David doesn’t have that many connections to Möllan yet, but he’s very much looking forward to exploring the new location and everything surrounding it in the future.
It will be an opportunity to experience new things and at the same time have a positive impact on the area.
“I’ve walked these corridors for almost 11 years now, and I’ve loved every second of it,” he says laughing. “But I embrace change and I see the move as something extremely positive. If you see the city as an organism, then Möllan is almost like a borderland, a coral reef where the big ocean meets the shallow water, and that’s incredibly exciting,” he explains, and continues:
“I’m looking forward to finding new lunch places, exploring where the best coffee is … I think it’s a great blood transfusion – both for Möllan and for us as a studio. It will be an opportunity to experience new things and at the same time have a positive impact on the area.”
Want to know more?
- Read more about our studio
- What is it like living in Malmö?
- Everything you need to know about moving to Sweden
- Want to join us on our exciting journey? Check out our career page!
