Page:CIA-RDP01-00707R000200090021-3.pdf/55

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200090021-3


conscious borrowings in design from Europe to the south, as do the renaissance additions to the medieval castles at Kalmar, Uppsala, and Gripsholm, and some of the baroque mansions constructed in the 17th century.

From the end of the 17th century until well into the 18th century, Tessin is the leading name in Swedish architecture. Buildings by Tessin include the Drottningholm Palace and the Royal Palace in Stockholm, both of which are in use today. The traditions of skilled craftsmanship and a feeling for the natural beauty of stone, wood, and other materials were continued, but it was not until after the start of the industrial revolution that significant architecture of some originality developed. A milestone was Stockholm's romantic city hall, designed by Ragnar Ostberg (1866-1945) and completed in 1923. An internationally known Swedish architect is Sven Markelius (1889- ), who designed the Swedish pavilion at the New York World's Fair in 1939 and later helped to design the New York buildings of the United Nations.

While contemporary Swedish architecture has conformed to the general European and North American functional trends, the sometimes unique, highly artistic combination of glass, metal, and light-colored stonework enriches the movement and inspires emulation abroad. Frequently recurring characteristics of Swedish architecture are simplicity and directness of design, a striving for light, and close harmony with the surroundings. Sweden's outstanding single contribution to their field of modern architecture, however, likes in urban planning.

The development of Stockholm and its suburbs over the past three decades offers one striking example of urban planning. The imaginative renewal of the center of the capital city, and the parallel construction of the satellite communities of Arsta, Vallingby, Farsta, Taby, and Skarhohnen have attracted world attention as models of national urbanization. Most notable have been the separation of vehicular and "weather protected" promenades and shopping centers, and the imposition of effective noise control through both structural design and traffic regulation. Similar new planned suburbs include Johannelund in Linkoping, Vastra Frolanda in Goteborg, and the southside center in Orebro. Residential areas constructed within or contiguous with cities are also carefully planned so as to improve the quality of life. A fairly recent planned urban residential community is Brittgarden in Tibro, the furniture manufacturing town. This prototype "garden apartment" complex contains "high rise" apartment houses of three to five floors, and one family single dwellings with one or two floors.


5. Handicrafts and industrial arts

The decorative and industrial arts are perhaps the outstanding example of peculiarly Swedish cultural expression. The design and quality of Swedish industrial art products are still influenced by the traditional handicrafts. Progress in the modern field of industrial art and design has been promoted by organized effort, represented in the first place by the Swedish Society for Industrial Design, founded in 1845. This organization has played an important role in furthering close cooperation between artists and manufacturers. In order to foster modern development of a valued national patrimony, the State School of Arts, Crafts, and Design was founded in Stockholm. This school, along with the School of Industrial Art in Goteborg, trains textile artists, ceramicists, silversmiths, furniture designers, industrial designers, painters, and sculptors.

In contemporary furniture design, Carl Malmsten and Bruno Mathsson join their Danish and Finnish colleagues in bringing world recognition to Scandinavia. The latter's bentwood chairs from the 1930's—still in production—are among the classics in Scandinavian furniture. After furniture, ceramic art and silver work have attained the most recognition in Europe and America. Noted names are artists and silversmiths Sven Arne Gillgren and Sigurd Persson. The glass industry, long Sweden's pride, continues to be dominated by Orrefors Glassworks, as well by such firms as Boda and Kosta (Figure 25). In the important field of textile arts, the Friends of Art Weaving and Needlework, founded in Stockholm in 1874, is the central organization for the production of original wall hanging and tapestries.


6. Recreation

The Swedes are typically Scandinavian in their appreciation of outdoor recreation. The Swedish Sports Federation, founded in 1903, covers nearly 13,000 clubs and more than 1,800,000 members. The Sports Federation receives annual government subsidies from the proceeds of government-owned soccer pools.

Soccer is the Swedish national sport in the summertime, and there are over 3,000 clubs throughout the country. The most popular winter sports are skiing and ice hockey, with about 2,500 and 1,600 clubs, respectively. A typically Swedish sport is


47


APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200090021-3