LO-borgen – its tradition, art, and power

Swedish Trade Union Confederation (LO) was formed in 1898 and is an umbrella organization that brings together fourteen member unions with approximately 1.4 million workers. In 1926, LO acquired the landmark property at Barnhusgatan 18 in central Stockholm, which since then is known as “LO-borgen”. In this newsletter you can follow a tour of this abode and take part in the building’s history and its art collection.

If you want to see more of the details, click on the pictures and they will open in a larger format.

Enjoy!
 

Norra Bantorget became Red Square

LO-borgen is located near Norra Bantorget in Stockholm, a location that shares a long history with Swedish social democracy. Even today, the Social Democrats’ May 1 demonstration march ends there (until covid-19) – hence the nickname “Red Square”.

The current square received a much-needed renovation by Nyréns Arkitektkontor and in 2009 was awarded the Swedish Architects’ Siena Prize for best landscape architecture. The motivation was “For a project that significantly increases the quality of life in Stockholm’s most traffic-intensive core.” Today, the square is a popular meeting place as well as a park and an urban oasis.

 

The park features Carl Eldh’s last work

In the park there are four sculptures, all related to the labor movement. In the middle of the square is the 3.5-meter-high Branting monument in bronze (below right). It represents a May 1 demonstration and was created to honor Hjalmar Branting, one of the pioneers of the labor movement. The monument and the surrounding site are the result of a collaboration between the sculptor Carl Eldh and the city landscape architect Erik Glemme. The site was inaugurated in 1952 and the sculpture became Carl Eldh’s largest and his last completed work.

 

The Carlberg building, a model for Stockholm

The property was commissioned by the timber merchant Gustaf Carlberg according to plans drawn up by architect Ferdinand Boberg (1860–1946) and completed in 1899. The building was to radiate pondus with an obvious resemblance to castles from the Vasa period – such as Gripsholm Castle. The building is rated “blue” by Stockholm City Museum, which means that is valued as a cultural-historical landmark.

Ferdinand Boberg’s several style-forming turn-of-the-century buildings have left their mark on 1900’s architecture in Stockholm. Among these are public buildings such as the old Post Office on Vasagatan, the government building Rosenbad and the NK department store on Hamngatan as well as private homes such as Prince Eugen’s Waldemarsudde and Thielska Galleriet on the island of Djurgården.

 

The spirit of the times then and now

Art runs like a common thread from the square Norra Bantorget outside and into the premises. In the entrance you are greeted by two frescoes done by artist Olle Hjortzberg in 1927, with period typical ideals for working-class men and women. Going downstairs to the meeting chamber, the new spirit of the times in “Love & Rebellion” is depicted in oil on canvas by Ella Tillema from 2019.

 

Over 1000 works of art

Over the years, LO has acquired an extensive art collection with over 1,000 works by more or less well-known artists. Mostly paintings but there are also sculptures and glass work. Most were acquired between the years 1960–1990.

 

From residential to office building

After the purchase, LO had the property renovated and converted from a private home to an office, with the help of architect Sven Wallander (1890–1986). He was behind the idea of building two skyscrapers – Kungstornen – on Kungsgatan and designed the northern one. Sven Wallander was also one of the initiators behind the formation of HSB Stockholm (the cooperative association for housing) in 1923. In a residential building on Valhallavägen, he developed and installed the first waste disposal system for which he received a patent in 1934. Five years later, he designed HSB’s head office on Fleminggatan.

 

LO’s chairmen in oil

All of LO’s chairpeople through the years have had their portrait painted and these can be seen around the building. Here from left is Gunnar Nilsson by Bertram Schmiterlöw, August Lindberg by Bo Beskow and Arne Geijer by Erik Cederwall.
 

LO-borgen has regained its luster

LO-borgen has been adapted and renovated on an ongoing basis several times. During the most recent major renovation in the 1990s, one of the goals was to recreate the interior as close to the original style and environment as possible.

Six years ago, a new comprehensive renovation of lighting, heating and ventilation was started, as it was not living up to the standards of a good working environment. The furniture had also begun to sag, and the surface layers were generally chafed. After renovation in stages, the whole building is now complete with the basement and the super modern meeting chamber as the crown jewels of the project.

Brand new at the top

At the top of the building is the guest floor which was in the worst condition. It has now been completely renovated with an improved floor plan and new furniture. The two tower rooms have become meeting rooms with a library as a social space between them. This area also contains a part of the building’s collections of glass art and sculptures. When the floor plan was adjusted, the boardroom also got more space.

 

In the meeting chamber, Otte Sköld became digital

Architect Hakon Ahlberg, founder of the organization Architects Sweden, was given the task in 1930 of designing a larger meeting chamber in the basement. In connection with the new renovation, Otte Sköld’s large mural that adorned the entire podium wall had to be removed. The solution was to photograph it and show it on the podium’s display screen, consisting of 18 curved LED screens.

Lasse Olsson Photo photographing and filming architecture, interior design, and lighting. My newsletter is published 6–8 times a year and presents photographed projects as well as reports from furniture fairs in Stockholm and Milan.

You can read my previous newsletters on my website. Click Here!