Unbuilt Stockholm: A City of Dreams Deferred
Karl Kadhammar’s "Stockholmsdrömmar – staden som aldrig byggdes" (Stockholm Dreams – The City That Was Never Built) offers a captivating glimpse into the alternate realities of Stockholm’s urban landscape, showcasing unrealized architectural plans and building proposals that span centuries. Through innovative data visualization techniques, Kadhammar and collaborator Martin Norlin seamlessly blend historical blueprints with contemporary photographs, creating strikingly realistic depictions of these "what-if" scenarios. The book’s cover itself sets the tone, featuring a 40-story Art Deco behemoth towering over a recognizable Blasieholmen, instantly sparking curiosity about the city that could have been.
One of the most striking examples presented is engineer Thor Thörnblad’s 1927 proposal for "Europe’s tallest skyscraper," a stepped pyramid inspired by American architecture. Had this ambitious project been approved, it would have dramatically altered Stockholm’s skyline and likely influenced subsequent urban planning. However, concerns about light deprivation led the city council to reject the proposal, leaving this imposing structure confined to the realm of imagination. Similarly, the book reveals alternative designs for iconic landmarks like the Nationalmuseum, initially envisioned as a grand white palace perched atop Kungsklippan, and the Parliament House, with one particularly audacious proposal by Léonie Geisendorf in 1971 suggesting the removal of Helgeandsholmen entirely to make way for two terraced high-rises and a plenary hall building situated directly in the water.
The book also explores more extensive urban planning concepts that could have drastically reshaped the city’s fabric. One such proposal envisioned a dense cityscape stretching from Djurgårdsbrunnsviken to Brunnsviken, while another imagined Södermalm transformed into a Manhattan-esque district. Le Corbusier’s 1932 plan for Stockholm proposed nine massive slab blocks on Norrmalm and Södermalm, housing 300,000 inhabitants, with Gamla Stan repurposed as a green, open space. The scale of these unrealized projects prompts reflection on the significant impact such decisions have on a city’s evolution and the far-reaching consequences of accepting or rejecting bold architectural visions.
Beyond grand architectural schemes, "Stockholmsdrömmar" delves into the evolution of Stockholm’s physical landscape, highlighting instances where lakes and islands were incorporated into the mainland through land reclamation projects. The book also offers intriguing anecdotes, like the financial struggles of Knut Lindmark, the engineer behind the Brunkebergstunnel, whose project became known as "Lindmark’s downfall" due to its cost overruns. This blend of architectural history, urban planning, and intriguing anecdotes creates a compelling narrative that captures the reader’s attention and sparks contemplation about the forces that shape a city’s identity.
While celebrating these unrealized visions, the book also raises critical questions about the long-term implications of urban planning decisions. The responsibility wielded by city planning officials is immense, as their choices shape the city for generations to come. However, the short-term nature of political cycles often incentivizes shortsighted decision-making, potentially hindering the implementation of truly visionary long-term plans. This tension between long-term vision and short-term political realities underscores the complexities inherent in urban development and the need for a careful balance between immediate needs and future aspirations.
Kadhammar’s generally optimistic tone, emphasizing the desire for progress and improvement, contrasts with a more nuanced perspective on the challenges of contemporary urban planning. The inherent tension between preserving historical character and embracing necessary change is particularly relevant in today’s context. The current emphasis on sustainability introduces a new layer of complexity, as the most environmentally sound solutions often involve less visible interventions, such as adaptive reuse and retrofitting existing structures. This shift in focus requires not only innovative design thinking but also effective communication strategies to convince stakeholders of the value of these less visually striking approaches.
While "Stockholmsdrömmar" celebrates the grand visions of the past, it also serves as a poignant reminder of the evolving priorities in urban development. The audacious architectural dreams of earlier eras are often replaced by a more pragmatic, economically driven approach in modern times. This shift underscores the need for a renewed focus on long-term vision and a willingness to embrace innovative, sustainable solutions, even if they lack the immediate visual impact of their predecessors. The book concludes by highlighting the importance of preserving and adapting existing architectural gems, exemplified by the ongoing renovation of Tensta Gymnasium and the decision to preserve the boat houses in Alvik Strand. These examples demonstrate a growing appreciation for the value of existing built environments and a commitment to finding creative solutions that balance preservation with progress. The challenges of sustainable urban development require ingenuity, expertise, and persuasive communication to ensure that the "invisible" architecture of sustainability gains the necessary support and becomes a defining feature of the cities of the future.
