STOCKHOLM.- The transformation of the historic Birger Jarl Passage brings it into a new era. As Misshumasshu reopens in its new, large-scale incarnation, it does so in a setting where architecture and gastronomy engage with the weight of the site’s history. Architect Maja Bernvill is behind the new design of the restaurant.

Spanning 800 square meters with six-meter-high ceilings and a daylight roof as a central feature, Misshumasshu is now famed in red. Through this powerful color and sculptural gestures, the restaurant is anchored in the historic arcade – while Bernvill infuses it with a contemporary sensibility.

“It’s a generous setting — one that welcomes return visits, in any season, at any hour. We embrace deep red tones as a unifying link between Japanese and Swedish culture. I think of Japanese lacquerware and Dala horses, Falu red and Japanese temples,” says Maja Bernvill.

At the heart of the project are the custom-designed dining tables. Bernvill’s design is inspired by the soft drape of a tablecloth – while also referencing both the grand scale of the space and the Japanese tradition of treating wood by charring its surface with fire. The chosen material, heat-treated solid ash, reflects the atmosphere of the room: authentic and monumental.

The newly opened restaurant seats around 150 guests, with a centrally placed bar acting as the focal point of the passage. A series of intimate rooms have been interwoven around the arcade, creating a continuous flow – as much a restaurant as a social meeting place.

Misshumasshu is the latest in a long line of collaborations with chef duo Adam & Albin, continuing the close exchange between architectural and culinary creativity. It follows Solen, the catalyst for establishing the Stockholm meatpacking district as a gastronomic destination. Solen was awarded, among others, Residence magazine’s Grand Design Prize, the international iF Design Awards, and was one of four nominated projects for Guldstolen – The Golden Chair Award, presented by the Swedish Association of Architects.

For over a decade, Maja Bernvill has built a portfolio of interior projects within international retail. After serving as Chief Creative Officer at Specific Generic, she founded her own studio in 2023.

In every project, the studio combines thorough research with formal exploration, aiming to create memorable architecture that resonates with contemporary expression. Long-term collaborations are key to the creative outcome, built on a deep understanding of the driving forces and ambitions behind each brand.

Since 2018, Bernvill has collaborated with On Running — one of the world’s fastest growing sports brands — where she has, among other things, led the design of the 15,000 sqm headquarters in Zürich. The work on On Labs has received several prestigious awards: “Arch Daily – Building of the Year 2024,” “Design Preis Schweiz – Interior Design,” “Best Architects 2024,” and “Swiss Marketing+Architecture Award 2023.”

Currently, a new flagship store for Ahlem Eyewear on Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, is nearing completion. Ahlem’s frames have been worn by notable figures such as LeBron James, Pharrell Williams, and Beck.

She has previously designed flagship stores for brands like Acne Studios, Kenzo, and Roland Mouret, developing deep expertise in how architecture can strengthen creativebrands.