ArkDes

The ArkDes exhibition rooms are located in a former 19th century military training hall, where marines were trained to handle cannon boats. The reception, library, archive and workshops of the museum are housed in an award-winning functionalist new building from 1997, designed by the Spanish architect Rafael Moneo. At the same time, the adjacent building for the museum of modern art was designed on his drawing board.

Architectural history in ArkDes

ArkDes focuses on the large permanent exhibition Arkitektur i Sverige (English: Architecture in Sweden), which takes visitors through 1,000 years of Swedish architectural history. From the Romanesque stone church from the 9th century to the modernist architecture of the post-war period, the exhibition uses 80 detailed models and original material from well-known architects to show the developments in architecture and urban planning throughout Swedish history.

The museum's archive contains a vast collection of thousands of models, drawings and photographs of works by about 600 different architects. The ArkDes library has over 24,000 specialist books and a large collection of specialist journals, with the oldest volumes dating back to the 1930s.

Other exhibitions in the museum

The permanent exhibition is accompanied by a number of exhibitions on architecture and design that change throughout the year. A regular feature is the exhibition Ung Svensk Form, which takes place in February and March and shows works by young Swedish designers from all disciplines, from product design to arts and crafts.

The exhibition Pepparkakshus, which takes place regularly during the Advent and Christmas season, is a special darling of the public. It is all about edible architecture, namely gingerbread houses. The exhibition is also a competition in which a jury awards prizes to the best gingerbread houses.

Further information

The visit to the museum is free of charge, the entire exhibition area is at ground level and largely barrier-free. There are wheelchair ramps at the entrances, the doors open automatically and the toilets are handicapped accessible.

For the small appetite in between, the museum's café Blom offers pastries, snacks, salads as well as cold and hot drinks. During the summer there is also an outdoor service.