{"id":2491,"date":"2023-12-20T13:13:49","date_gmt":"2023-12-20T12:13:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arkdes.se\/?post_type=collection&p=2491"},"modified":"2026-01-18T17:46:45","modified_gmt":"2026-01-18T16:46:45","slug":"the-collection-that-shaped-modern-sweden","status":"publish","type":"collection","link":"https:\/\/arkdes.se\/en\/the-collection\/the-collection-that-shaped-modern-sweden\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ideas That Shaped Modern Sweden"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n
\n \n \"\"<\/picture>\n <\/div>\n\n
\n Stadsbiblioteket, Stockholm. 1921. Gunnar Asplund. ArkDes collection.<\/i>\n \n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\n
\n \n

ArkDes<\/span> holds<\/span> one<\/span> of<\/span> the world’s<\/span> largest<\/span> architecture<\/span> collections<\/span>, <\/span>which<\/span> reveal<\/span>s<\/span> how<\/span> architects’<\/span> visions <\/span>become<\/span> the <\/span>reality<\/span> that<\/span> surrounds<\/span> us<\/span>.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>museum’s<\/span> collection<\/span> consists<\/span> of<\/span> over <\/span>four<\/span> million <\/span>drawings<\/span>, <\/span>sketches<\/span>, <\/span>photographs<\/span>, letters, <\/span>models<\/span> and <\/span>other<\/span> objects<\/span>. <\/span>The<\/span>y<\/span> are<\/span> what<\/span> remains<\/span> of<\/span> the <\/span>process<\/span>es<\/span>, <\/span>creativity<\/span>, visions, <\/span>discussions<\/span>, <\/span>people<\/span>, <\/span>and inspiration<\/span>s<\/span> behind<\/span> Sweden’s<\/span> built<\/span> environment<\/span>. It is a <\/span>living<\/span> collection<\/span> that<\/span> not <\/span>only<\/span> helps<\/span> us<\/span> understand and <\/span>reevaluate<\/span> history<\/span> but<\/span> also<\/span> brings<\/span> us<\/span> closer<\/span> to <\/span>the <\/span>individuals<\/span> who<\/span> shaped<\/span> modern Sweden.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

F<\/span>rom 1850 to <\/span>t<\/span>oday<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

ArkDes<\/span> was<\/span> established<\/span> in 1962<\/span> and <\/span>the <\/span>foundation<\/span> of<\/span> its<\/span> extensive <\/span>collection<\/span> was<\/span> then<\/span> the <\/span>photographic<\/span> and <\/span>drawing<\/span> archive<\/span> of<\/span> the Swedish Association <\/span>of<\/span> Architects<\/span>. <\/span>Since<\/span> then<\/span>, the <\/span>collection<\/span> has <\/span>steadily<\/span> grown<\/span> with<\/span> donations from <\/span>architects<\/span> active<\/span> from 1850 to the present. Notable <\/span>architects<\/span> represented<\/span> include<\/span> Gunnar Asplund<\/a>, Sigurd Lewerentz<\/a>, Susanne Tucker1<\/a><\/span><\/span>, <\/span>Léonie Geisendorf<\/a>, Backström & Reinius2<\/a><\/span>, and Ralph Erskine<\/a>. From the <\/span>time<\/span> before<\/span> and <\/span>after<\/span> the <\/span>turn<\/span> of<\/span> the 20th <\/span>century<\/span>, <\/span>there<\/span> are<\/span> objects<\/span> from the likes <\/span>of<\/span> Isak Gustaf Clason, <\/span>Cyrillus<\/span> Johansson, and Carl Bergsten. The <\/span>collection<\/span> also<\/span> includes<\/span> a <\/span>significant<\/span> number<\/span> of<\/span> photographs<\/span> from <\/span>Sweden’s<\/span> leading <\/span>architectural<\/span> photographers<\/span>, <\/span>such<\/span> as <\/span>Sune Sundahl3<\/a><\/span>.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Rewriting<\/span> History<\/span> through<\/span> the Collection<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

ArkDes<\/span> is <\/span>committed<\/span> to <\/span>keeping<\/span> the <\/span>collection<\/span> accessible<\/span> for research. The <\/span>museum’s<\/span> research <\/span>service <\/span>and<\/span> library<\/span> provides<\/span> material for <\/span>those<\/span> who<\/span> wish<\/span> to <\/span>consult<\/span> the <\/span>collection<\/span> and <\/span>its<\/span> stories<\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

A <\/span>collection<\/span> that<\/span> is <\/span>accessible<\/span> to the public <\/span>and researchers<\/span> can<\/span> contribute<\/span> to a <\/span>more<\/span> inclusive<\/span> architectural<\/span> history<\/span>, <\/span>where<\/span> previously<\/span> overlooked<\/span> buildings<\/span> and <\/span>individuals<\/span> are<\/span> brought<\/span> to <\/span>light<\/span>. In recent <\/span>years<\/span>, <\/span>efforts<\/span> have<\/span> been<\/span> made<\/span> to <\/span>expand<\/span> the <\/span>collection<\/span> with<\/span> parts <\/span>of<\/span> Sweden’s<\/span> architectural<\/span> history<\/span> that<\/span> have<\/span> been<\/span> underrepresented<\/span>, <\/span>particularly<\/span> women’s<\/span> contributions<\/span> to the art form and <\/span>architecture<\/span> and design<\/span> of<\/span> Sami <\/span>origin<\/span>. <\/span>This<\/span> also<\/span> includes<\/span> objects<\/span> originating<\/span> from protest <\/span>movements<\/span> or <\/span>engagements<\/span> around<\/span> architectural<\/span> and <\/span>societal<\/span> issues<\/span>, like <\/span>items<\/span> acquired<\/span> from Kvinnors Byggforum (the Women’s Building Forum)<\/a><\/span>, <\/span>Bo i Gemenskap4<\/a><\/span>, and <\/span>the <\/span>work<\/span> of<\/span> the architect <\/span>Abelardo Gonzalez<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Collection and the <\/span>Future<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Organi<\/span>s<\/span>ing<\/span> and <\/span>catalog<\/span>u<\/span>ing one the<\/span> world’s<\/span> largest<\/span> architecture<\/span> collections<\/span> is no small <\/span>feat<\/span>. As a <\/span>result<\/span>, <\/span>significant<\/span> parts <\/span>of<\/span> it <\/span>are<\/span> yet<\/span> to be <\/span>catalog<\/span>u<\/span>ed<\/span> and <\/span>digiti<\/span>s<\/span>ed<\/span>. The <\/span>ongoing<\/span> work<\/span> to make the <\/span>collection<\/span> accessible<\/span> continues<\/span>, <\/span>and research<\/span> for the new <\/span>collection<\/span> exhibition<\/span> opening<\/span> in 2024 has <\/span>brought<\/span> to <\/span>light<\/span> many<\/span> previously<\/span> unknown<\/span> objects<\/span> and <\/span>stories<\/span>.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/div>\n<\/body><\/html>\n <\/div>\n