We love a wander around IKEA as much as the next person, but there’s more to Swedish design than Billy Bookcases and Stockholm Rugs. Scandinavian structures are famous for their form, functionality and celebration of natural light, and the architecture in Sweden is no exception. Whether it’s a 20th-century town hall or sustainable office block, Swedish buildings are both practical and pretty (though we can’t guarantee they all serve delicious meatballs). Keep reading for our round up of Sweden’s must-see creative constructions.
- City Hall, Stockholm
- The Mirrorcube and more, Harads
- Kuggen, Gothenburg
- Turning Torso, Malmö
- Juvelen, Uppsala
City Hall, Stockholm
We’ll kick things off with one of Sweden’s most iconic buildings: Stockholm City Hall (Stadshuset). This vast brick building was designed by Ragnar Östberg in a Nordic architectural style known as National Romantic, but also contains elements of Venetian Gothic architecture. With a dignified and somewhat plain exterior, the building houses ornate creations such as golden mosaics, 17th-century tapestries and a grand staircase that’s perfect for dramatic entrances. As well as hosting wedding ceremonies and the City Council, the Stadshuset is the location of the annual Nobel Prize banquet. If you’re not too busy being honoured with one of the most prestigious awards out there, head to the top of the 347ft-high City Hall Tower for a panoramic view over central Stockholm.
The Mirrorcube and more, Harads
From the mighty and imposing to the miniature and invisible, this 13x13x13ft cube is perched in the trees and only accessible via a swaying footbridge. The Mirrorcube is part of Treehotel in Harads, northern Sweden, and thanks to an innovative design utilising – you guessed it – mirrors, it blends almost seamlessly into its surroundings. Whether snow-dusted trees or starry skies, vibrant sunsets or the mystical Northern Lights, the Mirrorcube reflects the best of Sweden’s natural wonders. But Treehotel’s magic doesn’t stop here. Each of the hotel’s eight rooms is a unique construction that constitutes some of the most exciting architecture in Sweden, be it a UFO hovering amid the trees, a giant private birds’ nest or a wildlife-attracting biosphere.
Kuggen, Gothenburg
Part of Chalmers University of Technology, this weird and wonderful building is made up of terracotta panels in two shades of green and six shades of red, mimicking the historic colours used in the city’s harbour and wharfs. With a spiral staircase at its centre, Kuggen gets bigger the higher up you go, making for a top-heavy structure that’s the talk of Sweden’s second city. Motion-activated lighting and heating sensors, triangular windows and inspired insulation solutions are just some of the green initiatives that make Kuggen as sustainable as it is quirky. The building also only has one elevator, encouraging people to use the stairs to promote both a healthy physical lifestyle and one full of social contact.
Turning Torso, Malmö
This is the tallest building in Scandinavia and one of the most famous pieces of architecture in Sweden. Located in Malmö, Sweden’s third-largest city, the Turning Torso was designed by renowned Spanish architect Santiaga Calatrava and inspired by the movement of the human torso (hence the name). Powered by renewable energy, the 54-storey building is another masterpiece in green construction. As the Turning Torso is primarily a residential building, visitors can only go inside during the summer months, and booking is required well in advance. Instead, we recommend heading to Ribersborgsstranden (Ribersborgs Beach) for a great view of the tower twisting above the water, before heading to Ribersborgs Kallbadhus for a traditional Swedish sauna experience.
Juvelen, Uppsala
Do you fancy working every day inside a giant golden gemstone? Move to Uppsala and you can do just that. This shimmering construction was completed in 2019 and is one of the most sustainable Nordic office buildings thanks to solar-powered electricity, zero percent waste going to landfill during construction, a self-sufficient cooling system and much more. For those of us who don’t plan on relocating, however, this gem is well-worth a visit. Located in the Cambridge of Sweden, as Uppsala is known, Juvelen (or, The Jewel) was designed by Stockholm-based architects Utopia, and is a shining landmark that greets visitors as they enter the city.