Architecture highlights in Stockholm
Publish date: 1 October 2024
With relatively few skyscrapers and many historical buildings preserved, Stockholm has an unusually short skyline for a city of its size. That, of course, doesn’t mean that it lacks architectural beauty.
Swedish architects have been influenced by movements and styles from abroad. But due to its geographical location, these cultural currents have arrived later and by that time evolved into something uniquely Swedish.
When Art déco came to Sweden in full force it transformed into Nordic Classicism to cater to Swedish tastes, and functionalism morphed into its Swedish offshoot “funkis”.
Modern Swedish architecture, both commercial and residential, is characterized by sustainability in tune with nature. New projects are planned to work in unison with the surrounding nature and much care is put into making sure that building materials are energy-efficient and eco-friendly. This has produced some truly spectacular projects, such as the New Crematorium at the Woodland Cemetery.
5 architectural highlights in Stockholm – find more in the list below
- The City Hall – Arguably the most famous spire in Stockholm's skyline, The City Hall celebrated its 100th birthday in 2023. A prime example of national romanticism (Swedish Grace), City Hall was conceived by Ragnar Östberg and built using over 8 million bricks.
- Östermalm Market Hall – Östermalm Market Hall has kept residents fed since it opened in 1888. The market hall has an industrial feel – thanks to the inner cast-iron support beams – akin to a train station or terminal. In a way, it kind of is; a way-point for passengers on their daily gastronomical journey.
- The Royal Dramatic Theatre – Sweden's foremost theatrical institution resides in a magnificent Art Nouveau building overlooking Nybrokajen. The building was designed by Fredrik Lilljekvist, and famous artists like Carl Milles and Carl Larsson contributed with decorative flourishes. The theatre opened in 1908 and at the time it was the costliest public project in Sweden.
- The Woodland Cemetery – Sublime and serene. The Woodland Cemetery in Southern Stockholm mixes pine -and fern-covered natural beauty with the straight lines and sharp edges of modernist architectural sensibilities. Construction began in 1915 and wasn't finished until 1940.
- Wisdome – Stockholm's youngest architectural stand-out is the wooden dome cinema Wisdome. An annex to the National Museum of Science and Technology, Wisdome opened in 2023. The roof, floor, support beams, and walls are made of laminated veneer lumber and cross-laminated timber bent to create the arched ceiling over the round center piece (also made of wood).