Page 107 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sweden

M ALM ARNA & FUR THER AFIELD  105

other items provide an insight Gunnar Asplund
into Jewish life in Sweden with
its traditions and customs. Gunnar Asplund (1885–1940) was a dominant figure among Swedish
The beautiful Torah (the five and internationally renowned architects in the 1930s. His first major
books of Moses), the bridal commission was the chapel at the Skogskyrkogården Cemetery,
canopy, and the collection of designed in National Romantic style.
eight-stemmed chanukis His last work was Heliga Korsets
(candlesticks) are just some Kapell, the cemetery’s crematorium
of the museum’s treasured (1935–40). Regarded as a
spiritual artifacts. masterpiece in the Functionalist
style, it has earned a place on the
UNESCO World Heritage list (see
p111). Asplund designed Stads-
biblioteket (City Library, 1920–28).
He pioneered the Functionalist style
as chief architect for the Stockholm Stockholm Exhibition, by Gunnar
Exhibition in 1930. Asplund, 1930

A park stretches down to was dominated by Classical
Sveavägen, where a pond is ideals. It was opened in 1928.
fed by a hillside stream. The Internally, the furnishings
statue Dancing Youth is by and many of the light fittings
Ivar Johnsson. At the southern were designed by Asplund
The old observatory (1748–53) at the top entrance of the park is Nils himself. The work of Swedish
of the Observatory hill Möllerberg’s sculpture Youth. artists is well represented: in
the entrance hall are Ivar
h Observatorie- Johnsson’s stucco reliefs with
museet j Stadsbiblioteket themes from Homer’s Iliad;
Sveavägen 73. Map 1 B2. Tel 08-508 the sparkling mural in the
Drottninggatan 120. Map 1 B2. children’s section, John Blund,
 Odenplan. @ 40, 42, 65, 72. 310 60.  Odenplan, Rådmansgatan. is by Nils Dardel; and the
Closed to the public. - 0 = @ 2, 4, 50, 57. Open 9am–9pm depiction of the stars in
∑ observatoriet.kva.se Mon–Thu, 9am–7pm Fri, noon–4pm
Sat & Sun (mid-Jun–mid-Aug: 9am– the heavens by Ulf Munthe.
7pm Mon–Fri, noon–4pm Sat). 7 The door lintels, door handles
A number of institutions ∑ biblioteket.stockholm.se and drinking fountains are by
connected with science and Nils Sjögren. Hilding Linnquist
education can be found on and Gunnar Asplund’s masterpiece, was responsible for the giant-
around the hill of Brunkeberg. Stadsbiblioteket (City Library), sized tapestry, and also for four
The oldest is the former observ- is one of the capital’s most mural paintings using ancient
atory designed by Carl Hårleman architecturally important fresco techniques.
for the Royal Swedish Academy buildings. Asplund, the The library lends more than
of Sciences and opened in 1753. champion of the Functionalist a million books every year and
In 1931, astronomical research style prevalent in the 1930s, also organizes author sessions
was moved to Saltsjöbaden in designed a public library which and other events.
the Stockholm archipelago and
replaced by Observatorie museet
(the Observatory Museum).
Until recently, visitors could see
the observation room with its
instruments, the two median
rooms and the weather room.
The observatory has been
closed since 2014. Although
there are plans to re-open, it is
not clear when they will go
ahead.
The grove which surrounds
the old observatory began to
take shape in the 18th century.
It is an idyllic enclosed area,
first opened to the public in
the 20th century. On top of
Brunkeberg is Sigrid Fridman’s
statue The Centaur. Stadsbiblioteket, in Neo-Classical style, designed by Gunnar Asplund

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