NORRMALM - part 1
Sergels Torg, Hötorget, Norrmalms Torg, Drottninggatan, Sveavägen, Kungsgatan, Olof Palmes Plats, Tegnérlunden, S:Ta Clara Kyrka, Klarakvartéren, Central Station
Norrmalm is the district, north of Mälaren (norr=north), there the most central part of the city center is situated. It is the most shopping oriented and commercial district with many department stores, like NK and Pub, and companies. Many of the most famous buildings and squares are situated here, many of them concentrated of the mostly pedestrian Drottninggatan, a long shopping street that stretches from the Old Town to Vasastan. The central station, where we arrived by train, is also situated on Norrmalm. Norrmalm is the most modern of the districts in central Stockholm, many old buildings where torn down in the 1960s to make way for grey modernist buildings, that is considered a big mistake in Swedish architecture history. Especially around Sergels torg and Hötorget, where you find the five so called Hötorgsskraporna. At the major street Kungsgatan you find the much older and more beautiful Kungstornen, considered to be among the first skyscrapers in Europe. Sveavägen and Olof Palmes Gata, where the Swedish prime minister was shot to death in 1986, and the minister Anna Lindh in 2003, is situated in Norrmalm, as well as the tomb of Olof Palme at Adolf Fredriks church. Kungsträdgården is one of the few parks in central Stockholm, a place for many events.
Sergels Torg, named after the artist Johan Tobias Sergel, is perhaps the most famous square in Sweden. its 60s modernist architecture has became a symbol for the dull architecture that has replaced historic buildings in many Swedish cities. Despite that it is a very popular place with its fountain, its sculpture, departments stores and the five skyscrapers. When TV is broadcasting modern views from Stockholm, they often show Sergels Torg. On the East part of the heavily trafficated square is a large circular fountain. In the middle of the fountain stands Edvin Öhrström's 37m high glass pillar from 1974. You also find the House of Culture (Kulturhuset), the large department store Åhléns City and the large Galleria shopping galleria.
Hötorgsskraporna is the name of the 5 so called “skyscrapers” situated between Sergels Torg and Hötorget, part of Hötorgscity. They are not really tall though, just 61m tall each, but were called skyscrapers since they where the first buildings that resembled American skyscrapers in style.
"Plattan" is the lowered part of Sergels torg, a large underground hub with stores and restaurants close to the subway entrance that has been infamous for its many drug addicts and dealers.
Kulturhuset (House of Culture), Sergels torg. Built in 1974, it houses theaters, cinemas, restaurants, exhibition rooms, a concert hall and a library. It was one of the main inspirations for Centre Pompidou in Paris and has became a controversial symbol for the rise of modernism.
HÖTORGET:
Hötorget (Hay market square) with the Royal Concert Hall and Hötorgsskraporna. Every day, except on sundays, this city square has a fruit and vegetable market. Here you also find the PUB department store, Filmstaden Sergel with its large multiscreen cinema, the fountain Orfeusbrunnen and Hötorgshallen, an underground market hall. Hötorgscity is the office and shopping complex dominated by Hötorgsskarporna.
People from the Middle East sell chanterelles at the market, which they announce loudly.
Urban scene of Hötorgscity with the 5 office towers Hötorgsskraporna, the sculpture and the Concert Hall.
Kungliga Konserthuset (The Royal Concert Hall), Hötorget. This light blue neo-classicist building is the main hall for orchestral music in Stockholm. It is home to the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra and the place where the award ceremonies of the Nobel Prize and the Polar Music Prize are held.
PUB, a classic department store at Hötorget. It opened in different buildings from 1916-1959, all drawn by famous architects. In 2006 it was transformed into a department store for fashion.
Gallerian, a wellknown shopping galleria near Sergels torg, between Hamngatan (picture), Regeringsgatan and Kungsgatan with 85 stores. It opened in 1976, reopend in 2004 and rebuilt in 2011. In 1951-68, 45 old buildings were torn down to make way for the galleria, known as one of the most controversial parts of Swedish building history.
http://www.worldtravelimages.net/Sto..._Norrmalm.html