“It’s a well-functioning place and the people living here are tolerant and open-minded”

Though Stockholm offers many wonderful virtues, Kristoffer Fagerström’s connection with the Swedish capital is rooted in family. The partner and product designer at Note Design Studio was born in the city’s Södermalm neighborhood. After spending his childhood growing up with his two brothers in the southern municipality of Botkyrka, Kristoffer returned to Stockholm as an adult to start a family of his own. “I’ve traveled a lot, lived abroad and have really enjoyed my encounters with new cultures, people and experiences,” he says, “but there’s something special about Stockholm.” From the shops, clubs and sporting arenas clustered around the city center to the nature reserves and beaches dotting Stockholm’s archipelago, he loves the ease of navigating the entire city by bike—this geographic closeness has deepened his connection with the city and its community.

“It’s a well-functioning place and the people living here are tolerant and open-minded,” he says. Kristoffer also takes full advantage of the region’s rugged landscape: For example, when summer rolls around, he makes his way down the winding coast to Skåne County, where both he and his partner have family. “That’s our number one recharging spot,” Kristoffer says. “Our little family spends at least four weeks there swimming, playing golf and doing nothing at all.” When the long Nordic winter descends at the opposite end of the season, Kristoffer takes its arrival as an invitation to hit the slopes—though he’s unfortunately had to scale back in recent years. “Last year I took my daughters to the north of Sweden on a snowboarding trip,” he says. “But after a very humiliating session at the big jump park, I realized my extreme snowboarding days are behind me!”