Stockholm: the iconic City Hall Stadhus (IV)

Hello archi lovers!

A last stop in Stockholm, that Nordic city so beautiful, elegant, merged with the Baltic Sea and the green nature that surrounds it, and in which we have discovered imposing buildings. But one was missing, among many things...

So in this final post about the trip to the Swedish capital we are going to stop at the City Hall building, called Stadhus and which can be visited, both inside and out. This is because of its importance and as soon as we see it we discover a building with a unique and special character and it is.

The reddish façade already attracts attention, the entire building is made of red brick, something common in these places, but the decorative elements give it a more elegant and majestic air, the niches with the elevated statues and the entire portico above the small staircase, a union of arches that invite us to enter. There is also a curious element, a golden tomb coffin of someone of importance that stands out brilliantly in all that original façade.

We can enter through there and exit through the back, surprise, a wonderful open patio, with grass from which to contemplate again the views of everything that Stockholm offers us and opposite on the islands on the other side there is also a lot, especially in one day so sunny and bright where everything seems more beautiful. Here too, on this side, a statue and the flags since it is an institutional building.

We can also turn to see again the colonnade that supports the arches of the portico of the façade and all the beautifully shaped windows, which can remind us, almost floating on the sea, of one of those Venetian palaces that this time instead of being of white stone it is made of redder bricks, but perhaps for these things they call this city the Venice of the north.

Now we have to enter and visit this remarkable building, and it is for something very particular: we know that the Nobel Prize ceremony is held in this city, then everyone is invited to a banquet and a dance, since both take place in this building.

First in the large two-story room that looks like an interior patio illuminated by the rays of light that enter through the top, and above those slabs, in the central area, the guide said that the banquet of the Nobel Prize winners takes place there, who could imagine it?

We continue touring the building, a palace in reality that may seem somewhat rough because of the bricks but, on the other hand, all the rest of the decoration adorns it and turns it into a distinguished environment, such as the main room, where they carry out the agreements or plenary sessions, there are the chairs, tables and a red awning that turns the administrative room into a very exclusive space, it is curious to be able to enter here. And although the light in the photos is not very good, inside, that coffered ceiling, or made with beams and at the same time wonderfully painted, is incredible.

We were fascinated walking through totally palatial hallways both for the decoration and architecture that seems classic and very romantic to us and for the wonderful chandeliers that accompany us on our stylish tourist tour. Such a luxurious element that certainly says everything in a style like this, right? And again beautiful ceilings and delicate reliefs next to the windows.

And while we enjoy the architecture and also the art with some paintings, we can look out the windows and see the water sparkle, everything shines in this very special building. Also the window panes themselves, worked and detailed, as well as the façade itself which also has reliefs in the red brick itself that with a view, camera zoom and from another outside perspective we can appreciate them.

But the best thing remains, we changed rooms, we did not travel to an oriental palace, but to the Golden Room of the building, we were left with our mouths open for all those small pieces that cover the impressive room. This is the Nobel Prize winners' ballroom.
And there is so much to say, but above all to see, again, it was a very dark and poorly lit room for visitors and you can't see it very well in the photos but it still suddenly looks like a Byzantine church or something like that, and it is simply the history of the city in the form of an immense golden mosaic.

As in a dream, we think of a dance in this magical room and it would seem like a fairy tale in an enchanted palace and not the Stockholm City Hall building.

Stockholm, Sweden🇸🇪❤️ Europe

More about Stockholm here:

• Stockholm: the charming capital on the shores of the Baltic Sea (I)
• Stockholm: imposing important buildings and more (II)
• Stockholm: Kastellet, parks, museum and views! (III)

Thanks for reading! Have a wonderful and nice day.

The text is totally mine and the photos too, by ©Duvinca