Norrmalm
SERGELS TORG, HÖTORGET, NORRMALMS TORG, DROTTNINGGATAN, SVEAVÄGEN, KUNGSGATAN, OLOF PALMES PLATS, TEGNÉRLUNDEN, KUNGSTRÄDGÅRDEN, S:TA CLARA KYRKA, KLARAKVARTÉREN, CENTRAL STATION

Norrmalm is the district, north of Mälaren (norr=north), there the most central part of the city center is situated. It is the most shopping oriented and commercial district with many department stores, like NK and Pub, and companies. Many of the most famous buildings and squares are situated here, many of them concentrated of the mostly pedestrian Drottninggatan, a long shopping street that stretches from the Old Town to Vasastan. The central station, where we arrived by train, is also situated on Norrmalm. Norrmalm is the most modern of the districts in central Stockholm, many old buildings where torn down in the 1960s to make way for grey modernist buildings, that is considered a big mistake in Swedish architecture history. Especially around Sergels torg and Hötorget, where you find the five so called Hötorgsskraporna. At the major street Kungsgatan you find the much older and more beautiful Kungstornen, considered to be among the first skyscrapers in Europe. Sveavägen and Olof Palmes Gata, where the Swedish prime minister was shot to death in 1986, and the minister Anna Lindh in 2003, is situated in Norrmalm, as well as the tomb of Olof Palme at Adolf Fredriks church. Kungsträdgården is one of the few parks in central Stockholm, a place for many events.

SERGELS TORG:

Sergels Torg, named after the artist Johan Tobias Sergel, is perhaps the most famous square in Sweden. its 60s modernist architecture has became a symbol for the dull architecture that has replaced historic buildings in many Swedish cities. Despite that it is a very popular place with its fountain, its sculpture, departments stores and the five skyscrapers. When TV is broadcasting modern views from Stockholm, they often show Sergels Torg. On the East part of the heavily trafficated square is a large circular fountain. In the middle of the fountain stands Edvin Öhrström's 37m high glass pillar from 1974. You also find the House of Culture (Kulturhuset), the large department store Åhléns City and the large Galleria shopping galleria.

Hötorgsskraporna is the name of the 5 so called “skyscrapers” situated between Sergels Torg and Hötorget, part of Hötorgscity. They are not really tall though, just 61m tall each, but were called skyscrapers since they where the first buildings that resembled American skyscrapers in style.

Hötorgsskraporna are the most significant highrises downtown. They were built between 1955 and 1966. Each one was designed by a different architect. Despite having just 19 floors, many Swedes still think they are too tall for downtown Stockholm.

Kulturhuset (House of Culture), Sergels torg. Built in 1974, it houses theaters, cinemas, restaurants, exhibition rooms, a concert hall and a library. It was one of the main inspirations for Centre Pompidou in Paris and has became a controversial symbol for the rise of modernism.

Sergels torg with Edvin Öhrström's 37m high glass pillar from 1974.

Drottninggatan and Åhléns City, Sweden's largest department store, Sergels torg

HÖTORGET:

Hötorget (Hay market square) with the Royal Concert Hall and Hötorgsskraporna. Every day, except on sundays, this city square has a fruit and vegetable market. Here you also find the PUB department store, Filmstaden Sergel with its large multiscreen cinema, the fountain Orfeusbrunnen and Hötorgshallen, an underground market hall. Hötorgscity is the office and shopping complex dominated by Hötorgsskarporna.

People from the Middle East sell chanterelles at the market, which they announce loudly.

Hötorgshallen, an underground market hall in the cinema building

Urban scene of Hötorgscity with the 5 office towers Hötorgsskraporna, the sculpture and the Concert Hall.

Konserthuset, Hötorgshallen

Hötorgsskraporna, market, Filmstaden Sergel and Hötorgshallen

Kungliga Konserthuset (The Royal Concert Hall), Hötorget. This light blue neo-classicist building is the main hall for orchestral music in Stockholm. It is home to the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra and the place where the award ceremonies of the Nobel Prize and the Polar Music Prize are held.

Orfeusbrunnen (The Orpheus Well) from 1936 by the famous sculptor Carl Milles stands in front of the concert hall.

PUB, a classic department store at Hötorget. It opened in different buildings from 1916-1959, all drawn by famous architects. In 2006 it was transformed into a department store for fashion.

Kungsgatan with PUB to the left

Inside PUB. The name stand for Paul U.Bergström, the founder of the company

KLARAKVARTÉREN AND KLARABERGSGATAN:

Åhléns City, Sweden's largest department store, has 5 floors and was inaugurated in 1964. It is the anchor store of the Swedish Åhléns store chain. Here seen from Klarabergsgatan towards Sergels torg.

Klaragatan with Åhléns City (right), Sweden's largest department store

Escalators of Åhléns City

S:ta Clara Church (in Swedish Klarakyrkan or Sankta Clara Kyrka) is at 116m Scandinavia's 2nd tallest church. Today it is surrounded by the modernist buildings at Sergels torg and Klarabergsgatan, so it can only be seen from afar. Construction of the current church started in 1572 by Hendrik van Huwen. Built in red brick with a coppar roof.

S:ta Clara Kyrka's entrance is hidden in a tranquil churchyard in the midst of the busy Klarakvartéren. CM Bellman and other famous people are buried here

Klarakyrkan, S:ta Clara Church

The interior of S:ta Klara Church. I listened to an organ concert to have a break from the bustling Norrmalm streets.

S:ta Clara Kyrka

Klarakyrkan, S:ta Clara Church

S:ta Clara Church seen from Klarabergsgatan. The so called Klarakvartéren (Clara quarters), situated between the Central Station and Sergels torg, are known as one of the most extensive demolishment projects in Swedish history, replacing old historic buildings with large modernist buildings.

Klarabergsgatan at sunset towards the World Trade Center (right) and the new Radisson Waterfront Hotel (left)

Radisson Waterfront Hotel (built 2011) and the upper entrance to the Central Station

World Trade Center Stockholm was built in and is situated at Klarabergsviadukten above the Central Station. It was built in 1989 and drawn by Ralph Erskine. There is a large atrium inside and it has an office space of 45 000 m².

The large and futuristic atrium of WTC Stockholm with its panorama elevators.

World Trade Center is connected to the City bus terminal

KF-huset (Coop’s HQ) with the famous Katarinahissen, the outdoor elevator that takes you down from Södermalm’s rock to ground level. The original elevator was built in 1883, but was torn down because of the reconstruction of Slussen and the new elevator was inaugurated in1936. On the lower ground of the skybridge is the classic restaurant Gondolen. This picture is from 2010.