Page 135 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Stockholm

SÖDERM ALM & SOUTH OF SÖDER  133

e Medborgar­
platsen
Map 9 D3.  Medborgarplatsen.
@ 59, 66.
Södermalm’s natural centre is
Medborgarplatsen. The square
had been called Södra Ban torget
for more than 100 years, but
in 1939 it was renamed
Medborgarplatsen (Citizen’s
Square) on com pletion of
Medborgarhuset. The building,
designed by Martin Westerberg in
Functionalist and Neo-Classical
styles, contains an auditorium,
gym, swimming pool and library.
On the west side of the
square is Söderhallarna, a The lofty Södertorn and Ricardo Bofill’s curved building near Södra Station
complex of restaurants,
delicatessens and a cinema. r Södra Station sallén and the rail-shuttle
In 1984 the Göta Ark offices, Area station. A 200-m (660-ft) long
designed by Claes Mellin and avenue with 16 sculptures
Willy Hermansson, were added Map 8 C3.  Medborgarplatsen or cuts diagonally across the
on the northwest side. Mariatorget, then a short walk. @ 43, park, with a fountain and
Alongside the stairway to Södra 55, 66. pool in the middle. In the
Station is the Södertorn apart- northern part of the park a
ment block designed by the In the mid-19th century flower garden has been named
Danish architect Henning Larssen. Fatburen lake existed to the after the Swedish composer
At the entrance is Nana’s Fountain west of Medborgarplatsen. It Johan Helmich Roman (1694–
by Niki de Saint-Phalle, who also was filled in, and in the 1860s 1758). The arches of Bofill’s
created a large sculpture group a train station – Södra – was curved building shelter some
(see p78) at the Moderna museet opened nearby. In the 1980s interesting works of art.
(see pp82–3). The western corner the track site was transformed
of Medborgarhuset features a into a new residential area
17th-century gateway. Closer with approximately 3,000 t Leksaksmuseet
to Götgatan is Gustaf Nordahl’s apartments. Tegelviksgatan 22. Map 8 F3. Tel 08-
The Source of Life (1983). The district became a test- 641 61 00.  Slussen. @ 2, 55, 66.
Göran Strååt’s sculpture bed for the design concepts Open 10am–5pm Mon–Fri, 11am–
Kasper can be seen at the of the 1980s and was shaped 4pm Sat & Sun. 8 by appt. & 7
17th-century Lillienhoffska by architects’ efforts towards = - ∑ leksaksmuseet.se
Palatset. Stefan Thorén’s Stockholm’s urban renewal.
sculpture Dawn in welded iron The most interesting additions Toys, which have delighted
is a dominant feature on the were by the Spanish architect children and adults alike over
square outside. Ricardo Bofill. He designed the the past century, are on show
tower blocks near to at Leksaksmuseet (the Toy
the station building Museum). The museum was
as well as the curved opened in 1980, and the main
residential building exhibition changes continu-
– the area’s most ously as new toys are added
impressive Neo- to the collection.
Classical feature – One section features musical
which adjoins instruments, including musical
Fatbur Park. boxes, barrel organs and
The park has an accordions. Another area is
open section close devoted to mechanical toys,
to Bofill’s curved models and dioramas. A third
building, with a section has dolls, dolls’ houses,
wooded area further wooden toys, steam engines,
away. It is crossed by and several working model
a path, which links railways. Private collections
Medborgarplatsen, central Södermalm, with Medborgarplatsen are also on show. There is a
Lillienhoffska Palatset, once a poorhouse with Södermalm- playroom and children’s theatre.

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