The Parliament House ( sv, Riksdagshuset ) is the seat of the parliament of
Sweden, the
Riksdag. It is located on nearly half of
Helgeandsholmen
Helgeandsholmen () is a small island in central Stockholm, Sweden. It is located north of Stadsholmen, and east of Strömsborg, with which, together with Riddarholmen, it forms Gamla stan, the old town of Stockholm. Helgeandsholmen contains the ...
(island), in the (old town) district of
central Stockholm.
Architecture
The building complex was designed by
Aron Johansson in the
Neoclassical style
Neoclassical architecture is an architectural style produced by the Neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century in Italy and France. It became one of the most prominent architectural styles in the Western world. The prevailing sty ...
, with a centered
Baroque Revival style facade section.
Parliament House was constructed between 1897 and 1905.
In 1889, a competition had been held to select a design for the new Parliament building, that Johansson won.
Upon opening, it replaced the
Old Riksdag Building (''Gamla Riksdagshuset'') on
Riddarholmen
Riddarholmen (, "The Knights' Islet") is a small islet in central Stockholm, Sweden. The island forms part of Gamla Stan, the old town, and houses a number of private palaces dating back to the 17th century. The main landmark is the church Riddarh ...
(island).
The two buildings of the complex were originally constructed to house the Riksdag in one, and the
Sveriges Riksbank (Swedish National Bank) in the second, of a semicircular shape.
;Assembly Hall expansion
After the
bicameral Riksdag was replaced by a
unicameral
Unicameralism (from ''uni''- "one" + Latin ''camera'' "chamber") is a type of legislature, which consists of one house or assembly, that legislates and votes as one.
Unicameral legislatures exist when there is no widely perceived need for multi ...
legislature
A legislature is an assembly with the authority to make law
Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its p ...
in 1971, and the bank relocated, the building housing the bank was rebuilt to house the new Assembly Hall. During the construction, the Parliament moved into temporary premises in the newly erected
Kulturhuset
House of Culture (Swedish: Kulturhuset) is a cultural center situated to the south of Sergels torg in central Stockholm, Sweden. The House of Culture has been described as a symbol for Stockholm as well as of the growth of modernism in Sweden. ...
(House of Culture) south of
Sergels Torg
Sergels torg ("Sergel's Square") is a major public square in Stockholm, Sweden, constructed in the 1960s and named after 18th-century sculptor Johan Tobias Sergel, whose workshop was once located north of the square.
Overview
Sergels torg ha ...
, also in central Stockholm.
Exterior views of the
File:2011-06-11 01 Parliament House of Sweden (Riksdagshuset) in Gamla Stan, Stockholm.jpg, West from the Vasabron
File:2011-06-11 02 Parliament House of Sweden (Riksdagshuset) in Gamla Stan, Stockholm.jpg, North from the Riksbron
File: Riksdagshuset2014.jpg, East from the Norrbro
Right Livelihood Award
The
Right Livelihood Award has been presented to recipients at a ceremony in Parliament House. The award was established in 1980 to honour and support those "offering practical and exemplary answers to the most urgent challenges facing us today." There presently 149 Laureates from 62 countries.
Right Livelihood Award.org: "About the Right Livelihood Award"
. accessed 7.27.2013
See also
* Architecture of Stockholm
The architecture of Stockholm has a history that dates back to the 13th century, possibly even earlier. According to some sources, there might have been a simple defense structure, perhaps a small castle, on the northeast part of the island Stad ...
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Parliament House
Parliament House
Parliament House
Riksdag
Riksdag
Riksdag
1905 in Sweden
Baroque Revival architecture
Parliament House
Palaces in Sweden