Housed in a grand late 19th-century landmark on Stora Torget in Uppsala, Bankpalatset transforms a former banking institution into a multi-layered destination for work, gastronomy and well-being. The program combines office hotel and lounge environments with a signature restaurant and a membership gym, creating an “urban house” intended to be alive from early morning meetings to late evening drinks. The goal of our design concept here was to create a welcoming environment where a sense of home harmonizes with international class and historical connection. The interior builds on the building’s rich heritage and carefully balances preservation and renewal. Two historical layers are particularly highlighted: Ture Stenberg’s original architecture and a refined 20th-century renovation by Peter Celsing. The new design adds a third, contemporary chapter that dialogues with both without falling into pastiche, and the result is a nuanced, time-layered environment rather than a straightforward restoration. Arrival is choreographed through a vaulted lobby where stucco lustro, stone floors and a dramatic chandelier set an almost cinematic tone. A long, custom-made reception bar in richly textured materials introduces the project’s material language – substantial, tactile and subtly theatrical – and clearly marks the shift from street to salon. At the heart of the building, a double-height hall is treated as a social hub. A central mezzanine with eclectic furnishings and wrought iron railings inspired by the building’s original design language looks down onto an intimate restaurant where curtain panels and embracing furniture dampen the acoustics. At the same time, they frame the views towards the surrounding wood paneling that evokes turn-of-the-century interiors where artificial stone brings down the scale to something human and inviting. The restaurant itself emerges as a cozy focal point in this ensemble, characterized by cast iron columns, a finely checkered ceiling and a central bar. Curtained alcoves create private pockets, and a palette of warm wood, patterned textiles and honed stone allows for a seamless transition from bright daytime brasserie to more atmospheric evening setting. While workspaces have been designed with class and timelessness in mind, the meeting rooms are full of character and statement. No two are alike, offering visitors new experiences around every corner. Original windows, radiators and moldings combine with high-quality wallpaper, custom-made joinery and warehouse-built lighting, creating a calm, homely atmosphere that works equally well for focused work as for informal gatherings. Throughout, furnishings and art are eclectic and curated rather than strictly matched – a mix of vintage, contemporary design and commissioned pieces that give each room its own identity, while still holding the whole together. Together, these approaches reposition the Bank Palace as a contemporary city landmark: a house for Uppsala that unites history, hospitality and working life under one roof and invites the public back into a building that was once reserved for the bank’s rituals.