How do you turn something as anonymous as a utility cabinet into an experience? That was the challenge when City of Kungsbacka wanted to give the utility cabinets around Kungsbacka Square a new role in the public space. The goal was not to decorate them, but to create small, unexpected encounters that strengthen the identity of the place and make the city centre feel more alive.

Our conclusion was simple: few people stop to read or look at a utility cabinet. So we moved the experience to the mobile phone. That was how the scalable concept Kungsbacka Little Stage was born, where historical stories from the city are brought to life through short films with Lasse i Gatan as the narrator.

Three stories from Kungsbacka
There are many fascinating stories from Kungsbacka. We chose to create three films: one about Lasse i Gatan, one about Majblomman, which originated in Kungsbacka, and one about the historic square in the heart of the town. Our narrator was Lasse i Gatan, or Lars Gathenhielm as he was actually called. He was one of the most famous privateers of the Swedish Empire, born and buried in Kungsbacka. He is a well-known name associated with the city.

How we brought a historical figure to life
We filmed the stories in our own studio, where one of our own colleagues played the role of Lasse i Gatan. Using AI, motion control and historical imagery, we created a digital version of Lasse i Gatan who could step onto the stage and guide visitors through Kungsbacka’s history. 

Pink utility cabinets attract attention
The utility cabinets around the square were painted pink to reinforce the concept and create visibility in the urban environment. Each cabinet was wrapped with an illustration of the little stage and QR codes that linked to the films in Swedish and English.