Strandvägen
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Strandvägen is a waterfront on
Östermalm Östermalm (; "Eastern city-borough") is a 2.56 km2 large district in central Stockholm, Sweden. With 71,802 inhabitants, it is one of the most populous districts in Stockholm. It is an extremely expensive area, having the highest housing p ...
in central
Stockholm Stockholm () is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, largest city of Sweden as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in Scandinavia. Approximately 980,000 people liv ...
,
Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic country located on ...
. Completed just in time for the Stockholm World's Fair 1897, it quickly became known as one of the most prestigious addresses in town. Stretching 1 km (3.500 ft) east from
Nybroplan Nybroplan (Swedish for "New Bridge square") is a public space in central Stockholm, Sweden. Located on the border between the city districts Norrmalm and Östermalm, Nybroplan connects a number of major streets, including Birger Jarlsgatan, ...
, Strandvägen is intercepted by (west to east) Arsenalsgatan,
Nybrogatan Nybrogatan is a street in the borough of Östermalm in central Stockholm, Sweden. Approximately one kilometre in length, it stretches north from Nybroplan to Valhallavägen. Before 1864, the northern part of Nybrogatan above Östermalmstorg ...
, Sibyllegatan, Artillerigatan, Skeppargatan, Grevgatan, Styrmansgatan, Grev Magnigatan, Torstenssonsgatan, Banérgatan, Narvavägen,
Djurgårdsbron Djurgårdsbron (Swedish: "The Djurgården Bridge") is a bridge in central Stockholm, Sweden. Designed by Carl Fraenell and built for the Stockholm World's Fair 1897, the present bridge forms a southern extension to the boulevard Narvavägen, t ...
, Storgatan, Ulrikagatan, and Oxenstiernsgatan. It has four parallel streets: Almlöfsgatan, Väpnargatan, Kaptensgatan, and
Riddargatan Riddargatan is a street in central Stockholm, the capital of Sweden. The Artillery and Engineering College was located at Riddargatan 13 from 1885 to 1926 and the Swedish Army Museum is now based in the same building. References Streets ...
.
Hamngatan Hamngatan (Swedish: ''Port Street'') is a street in central Stockholm. It goes from Sergels torg down to Nybroplan, past NK department store, Kungsträdgården, Norrmalmstorg, and Berzelii Park. The Djurgården line travels along this street bet ...
forms a continuation in its western end, as do Djurgårdsbrunnsvägen in its eastern end. The Djurgården heritage tramway passes over Strandvägen. The waters south of the street are named
Nybroviken Nybroviken (Swedish for "New Bridge Bay") is a small bay in central Stockholm, Sweden. Nybroviken separates the city district Östermalm from the peninsula Blasieholmen. North of the bay is Berzelii Park and Norrmalmstorg. To the south Ny ...
, Ladugårdslandsviken, and
Djurgårdsbrunnsviken Djurgårdsbrunnsviken is a bay in central Stockholm, Sweden, together with the canal Djurgårdsbrunnskanalen forming the northern shore line of the island Djurgården (or more correctly between Northern and Southern Djurgården). The bridge ...
.


History

The street is first mentioned as ''Ladugårdslands Strandgata'' and ''Strandvägen'' respectively in 1885. However, an outstanding quay along the present waterfront was first discussed in 1857, and within two years a proposal was produced for a combined harbour and an
esplanade An esplanade or promenade is a long, open, level area, usually next to a river or large body of water, where people may walk. The historical definition of ''esplanade'' was a large, open, level area outside fortress or city walls to provide cle ...
planted with trees — "a street unparalleled in Europe". Works were started in 1862, but by the mid-1870s walking along the water front was still practicable at best, as the area was still crowded with sheds and hovels.''Gatunamn'', pp 315-316 The first trees along the 79 m wide street were planted in 1879, and while construction work on the buildings along the street was started in the 1880s, 75% of the 24 buildings were built in the 1890s.Andersson, ''Stockholm årsringar'', pp 69-71 However, in front of the World's Fair in 1897, the street was trafficable for both pedestrians and vehicles. Bünsow House (''Bünsowska huset'') on number 29–33 constructed in 1886–88, set a standard, not only for the entire street but for architecture in Sweden during the 1890s. It is named after Friedrich Bünsow, who made a fortune on wood and also embellished central
Sundsvall Sundsvall () is a city and the seat of Sundsvall Municipality in Västernorrland County, Sweden. It has a population of 58,807 as of 2020; more than 95,000 live in the municipal area. It is Sweden's 21st largest city by population. History Th ...
with the same kind of luxurious architecture. His architectural contest for the site at Strandvägen was won by the young architect Isak Gustaf Clason who during the contest was studying
Renaissance architecture Renaissance architecture is the European architecture of the period between the early 15th and early 16th centuries in different regions, demonstrating a conscious revival and development of certain elements of Ancient Greece, ancient Greek and ...
in the Loire Valley. From there he imported the towers, the dormers, and the "honest materials" (i.e. exposed bricks instead of plaster which dominated Swedish architecture during the preceding decades). In his 1895 novel ''Förvillelser'', author
Hjalmar Söderberg Hjalmar Emil Fredrik Söderberg (2 July 1869 – 14 October 1941) was a Swedish novelist, short story writer, playwright and journalist. His works often deal with melancholy and lovelorn characters, and offer a rich portrayal of contemporary Stoc ...
described the building as "a defiant and brilliant knight's poem in stone".''Solen glödde skarpt på det Bünsowska huset, en trotsig och lysande riddardikt i sten'' Even though Bünsow House set the standard for the street, it was an exception in that it was commissioned by one of the prospected residents. The builders of the remaining buildings on Strandvägen were well aware of the value of the prestigious location, and therefore commissioned some of the best architects of the era to design both the façades and the 5–10 room apartments to appeal to their exclusive audience. From the beginning, the rental cost for most of the apartments behind the prestigious façades exceeded average salaries. The smaller apartments on the backyards, however, were intended for low-income earners. Since 2005 works to develop Strandvägen into a more attractive area for both pedestrians and ships have been progressing: Footways are being paved in
granite Granite () is a coarse-grained (phaneritic) intrusive igneous rock composed mostly of quartz, alkali feldspar, and plagioclase. It forms from magma with a high content of silica and alkali metal oxides that slowly cools and solidifies undergro ...
and lampposts, benches, and litter bins are given a uniform design, while parked cars are confined to available underground carparks.''Strandvägen rustas...''


See also

* Geography of Stockholm *
Diplomatstaden Diplomatstaden (Swedish for "Diplomat City") is a neighbourhood in the Östermalm district in central Stockholm, Sweden. As the name suggests, the neighbourhood is the home of many embassies and ambassadorial residencies. Diplomatstaden encompass ...


Notes


External links


Walk on the Strandvägen

Read about Strandvägens history, architecture and the businesses located on Strandvägen


References

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Strandvagen Streets in Stockholm