says Dag Klockby, part-owner of Gärsnäs AB. The renovation market is already growing. In just two-three years, it has risen sharply. Gärsnäs has less need to purchase new materials and reuses what it can. That varies by product between 50% and 70% of existing materials.

There may be various levels of renovation. Perhaps a chair does not need to be highly polished to look like “new wood”, but can retain its patina and maturity, although maybe get a new seat or new fabric or leather. It is cheaper than buying new and the total cost is divided by the lifespan of the furniture.

Gärsnäs already has a system for renovating and refurbishing furniture that has performed long and faithful service. Furniture for the public space undergoes strict tests to attain certification. In terms of functionality alone, it is durable furniture that resists wear in restaurants, bars, libraries and public departments.

Over the years, these chairs have returned to Gärsnäs for repairs, reupholstery or repainting. The current maintenance plan runs until the 2040s; that is 60 years since they were made. Talk about durability.

After getting new seats, fresh paintwork and blue upholstery, they are now back at work at Handelsbanken, better than ever. A similar renovation has been performed for Chalmers University of Technology and its Gästis chairs. Norstedts förlag, the publisher, has renovated and repainted its Light & Easy chairs and the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency has given its faithful S-217 chairs new surface treatment and upholstery – for the second time.