January 21—November 5, 2023
Floor 3, free admission
In 2023 the Stockholm City Hall will be 100 years old. We are celebrating with an exhibition about Ragnar Östberg’s renowned building.
The exhibition allows you to meet the people who worked together to create the City Hall. Using century-old workplace records, you can see how the project evolved.
Along with the images, you can also hear the voices of some of the workers themselves. Their personal recollections describe the nature of work and life a century ago.
A variety of professional groups worked together. These included brick carriers, bricklayers, labourers, architects, joiners, carpenters, painters, sculptors and stonemasons. The building’s thousands of drawings were made by architects and engineers using pencils, compasses and rulers. The building’s foundations were laid by divers, concrete workers, carpenters and labourers.
Brick carriers
Brick carriers moved bricks up to the building. Each stack, carried on the back, was secured with a rope, chain or strap. The building’s bricks weigh a total of fifty-six thousand tons. Photo: Bror Ericson, 1916.
Bricklayers
Bricklaying tools included the trowel, hammer, spirit level and plumb bob. Many bricklayers wore a traditional striped shirt, often together with a waistcoat. Unknown photographer, 1916.
Stonemasons
Lots of manpower was needed to move large stones. The only available help was the crowbar and physical strength. Unknown photographer, 1916.