A Day in Stockholm with Architecture Talks' Mimmi Strömbäck

Mimmi Strömbäck is the founder and host of the podcast Architecture Talks, where she engages with some of the leading architects to discuss their work and journeys. Mimmi’s approach is driven by a strong curiosity to continuously learn from new people, places, and cultures which has shaped her architectural experience strongly. During architectural studies, her curiosity has led her to diverse design opportunities in Sweden, London, New York, and Guatemala.

Interviews often take place at my guests’ offices to get a better sense of their everyday life.

7:30 am: I’ve never been a morning person, but during the Swedish summer, when the sun barely sets, you’re forced to become one. The curtains I chose in winter seemed perfect, but now, waking up to sunlight at 4am, I realize they’re not! This is why I constantly adjust furniture in a space even after designing it; you need to live with it and see it in action to determine if it’s truly practical.

I juggle my time between design work and my podcast. Today is a podcast recording day, which still makes me a bit nervous even after 14 episodes. To calm my nerves, I head to Lillebrors Bageri to grab what I am sure is the best cinnamon bun in all of Stockholm.

8:00 am: Armed with my cinnamon bun and a fresh cup of coffee, I sit down to plan my day. I prefer to consolidate all podcast work into one day, but today, a residential project needed some quick tweaks as well. Today’s interview for Architecture Talks is with Mark Isitt, a big name in the Swedish architecture scene and someone I have huge respect for. He’s an architectural critic, author, journalist, and TV presenter for shows like Grand Designs. We’ll be discussing the most significant architecture in Stockholm, so I decided to revisit the projects beforehand to keep my impressions fresh. Plus, who doesn’t love a good architectural tour?

10:30 am: To make my research more fun, I put on my running clothes and jog between the buildings Mark selected for the episode. Last year, I ran a half marathon, and as I was training for it, I motivated myself by running between architectural sites. It’s the perfect blend of exercise and exploration, and the main reason why I’ve kept up the running.

Stadion Subway station, opened in 1973. Art by Åke Pallarp and Enno Hallek.

One of the places Mark picked is the Stockholm Subway. Did you know Stockholm’s subway is considered the world’s longest art gallery? Mark wanted to highlight this, and I completely agree—art at 90% of the Stockholm Subway stations is something that most Stockholmers take for granted.

Rådhusets Subway station, opened 1975. Art by Sigvard Olsson.

Editing podcasts can be time-consuming as I try to find a balance of themes from my conversations that are educational, fun, and personal. Today, I’m making final edits to “NYC: Must-See Architecture” with Riccardo Palma, an architect from the Bjarke Ingels Group in NYC. We are talking about the Seagram Building on Park Avenue, an example of how the best timeless architecture and amenities have created one of the most valuable commercial buildings in the world with rents over $200 per square foot. NYC’s average commercial rent is $70 per square foot.

1:00 pm: After about ninety minutes of running and site visits, I finish my run at home and grab lunch on the balcony. Usually, I’m in a workflow around lunchtime, so I often eat in front of the computer. Today, I finalize the NYC content edits for the episode and then send it off for the final sound quality check before its release.

2:00 pm: I wrap up my podcast preparation, adding notes and new reflections on the projects I visited. I organize the interview flow and highlight a few questions for every topic that intrigues me and challenges my guest.

5:00 pm: I meet up with Mark Isitt to record, and as soon as we sit down to talk, my nerves are calm. He is just as intelligent and well-articulated as predicted, but at the same time, he is equally fun and easy-going. The perfect guest! I usually aim for one-hour recordings, but let’s be real, it rarely happens. My guests are always so inspiring that it’s hard to move on when they’re passionate about a topic. This often results in the best stories, so even though it makes the editing more time-consuming, I’m okay with it. Today’s interview with Mark Isitt is no exception—it was one of the most exciting and educational interviews I’ve done, and unsurprisingly, it runs for two hours.

8:00 pm: Swedish summers are precious, and if the sun is out, you should be too. I head to Södermalm for dinner, listening to the first part of today’s recording. Ever listen to yourself and think, “Do I really sound like that?” Yep, still happens to me. At the restaurant Måsen, my own voice is finally replaced by the laughter and stories of my friends. Måsen is an outdoor summer pop-up restaurant that, despite its temporary feel with handcrafted furniture, effortlessly creates a space that feels perfectly suited to its location. In the end, simple design, an incredible view, and the right scale truly go a long way. Another way of interpreting Mies Van der Rohe’s famous phrase “Less is More.”

11:00 pm: I bike home through the winding streets, surrounded by the pastel-colored 20th-century architecture of Vasastaden, enjoying the light and quietness. I return to an apartment still filled with daylight, close my curtains, and fall asleep thinking about what curtains to get next.