Mälarens lås

How has Stockholm been shaped by its location between Lake Mälaren and the Baltic Sea—and what might its relationship to the water look like in the future? Mälarens Lås, part of ArkDes Open Call 2019, resulted in a suggestive anthology bringing together a variety of stories and possible futures.

Stockholm was founded as a key trading hub and military stronghold thanks to its proximity to the water, which enabled connections with the wider world. Today, while the city’s waterways remain central to its identity and character, they are also seen by many as barriers and practical obstacles in daily life.

The project Mälarens Lås (The Locks of Mälaren) set out to explore how Stockholm’s relationship to water has evolved over time—and to point toward future possibilities. The architecture firm Jägnefält Milton ↗, the design studio Research and Development ↗, and editor Marie Birde led an open and intuitive process to surface a wide range of perspectives. Drawing on the collections of ArkDes and the National Archives, the team also incorporated artworks, literature, old pamphlets, and comic books—building a shared reference library from both expected and unexpected sources. Among millions of architectural drawings in the museum’s collection, they found many that reveal past ambitions and visions for how the city might engage with its water.

The next step was a curatorial process that shaped this rich material into a layered and evocative portrait of waterside Stockholm. The result was an anthology titled Staden som simmar på vattnet (The City Swimming on Water), offering scenographic ideas and imaginative concepts for how the city might better embrace the water in the future.

By presenting unrealized proposals, the team was able to adopt a free and associative perspective. One example was Hans Asplund’s proposal for an underwater museum to house the Vasa ship at the site of its sinking. Another was a series of cold-water bathing houses that were never built. The group also explored how seasonal changes have shaped the city’s relationship to water. In the past, frozen waterways functioned as social spaces where people from all walks of life gathered—at places like Nybroviken, where you could skate to the sound of a live orchestra.

The anthology points to the potential of water as an active public space, both in summer and winter, through cultural activities and temporary installations. The project inspired further initiatives, including the construction of a temporary theater and restaurant built on three barges beneath the Liljeholmen Bridge.