What Is Sweden's Famous Architecture?
As a country steeped in rich cultural history, Sweden displays a remarkable array of beautiful buildings and has a long tradition of exporting architects with a unique, distinctly Scandinavian point of view. In Sweden, there are a rich variety of examples drawn from various periods of the past. However perhaps the most famous examples of architectural styles that dominate the country are French Rococo, Baroque, and Romantic.
While there are a lot of influences on Sweden's architecture, understanding the three most famous styles - French Roccoco, Baroque and Romanticism - can help you to understand who and what styles have influenced much of architecture throughout Sweden.
French Rococo
Sweden’s architecture immediately brings to mind, for many people, the French Rococo style – in spite of the fact that the style itself originated in France. French Rococo is recognizable by smooth surfaces, with recessed windows and doors that are the only things to break the planes of the walls.
Typically the buildings are much more ornate inside, and are characterized by low-relief carved panels that often decorate the walls and ceilings, and are usually finished with gilt and ivory. Elongated, organically-inspired curves, vines, and asymmetrical, delicate trails are hallmarks of the Rococo style, giving it a look that is elaborate without being fussy.
In Sweden, Rococo style is found in many major buildings, particularly in the city of Stockholm, considered the most beautiful city in the entire country. Carl Hårleman had a major influence on the local architecture beginning around 1750, and his work was almost strictly Rococo, so many historical buildings still bear the stamp of this bygone era. The most well known is likely the Svindersvik Manor, built by Harleman in 1740 as a home for a wealthy businessman, and today preserved as an example of the historical style.
Baroque
In some ways, Baroque is similar to Rococo architecture in that it reflects an era of elaborate detailing and rich, luxurious design. Baroque is more dramatic than Rococo, and tends to be characterized by richly crusted carvings, highly detailed peaks and recesses, and ornamentation on multiple surfaces. The look was popular in Sweden in the mid-1700s, closely following the Rococo period. The Stockholm Cathedral is an outstanding example of a historical building that displays this style.
While the cathedral was originally crafted in a Gothic tradition, it was remodeled in the 1700s with gilded carvings, brick and plaster finishing, highly dramatic wood-carved statues, and an imposing pipe organ. The remodeling was done by Johan Eberhard Carlberg, a well-respected architect of the time who mastered the Baroque style and completed projects in various countries throughout Europe.
Romantic
Perhaps the best term to describe the third style of Sweden's famous architecture style is “romantic,” although that’s not a strictly technical term for any particular architectural style. This may be the most representative of all Swedish architecture, because it is, in large part, the only one of the three main styles that was developed in Sweden rather than imported from another country.
Romanticism came about during the 18th century when architects began looking for a way to return to their cultural Swedish roots while still using newly-developing modern ideas found in other countries. With one foot in the Arts and Crafts movement and one foot in the field of natural inspiration, the Romantic style developed through layers of brick, simple craftsmanship - heavy designs, Old Norse historical motifs, and inspirations drawn from 16th century Swedish castles.
The resulting look is truly unique and truly Swedish, with small-scale, charming details, an overall look of elegance, and graceful lines that often cause the buildings to blend in as part of the organic landscape. This style peaked around 1900 and was well-executed by two young Swedish architecture students, who also helped to develop the style’s main traits. Carl Westman and Ragnar Ostberg traveled the world to study various elements of design that they eventually incorporated into Swedish Romanticism.