The Solliden Stage
Modern expansion in historic environment
Our specialists in building preservation have assisted in the restoration and construction of the The Solliden Stage, on the basis of Skansen’s ambition to create Northern Europe’s most modern outdoor stage. The fairground was also improved through renovations and additions. We weighed various qualities in the project, such as the location’s view of the entrance to Stockholm and the historic building value of the original stage, against expectations of modern stagecraft and acoustics.
Perhaps you yourself have sat at this classic location and gazed out over one of Stockholm’s most beautiful views. Or at least heard of the popular outdoor TV show Allsång på Skansen?
The Solliden stage (Sollidenscenen) was designed by Nils Einar Eriksson in 1938. It was at that time technically and acoustically of a very high quality. The audience sat facing the view and listened to acoustic music that was amplified through the spiral form of the stage.
But today’s concert situations and stagecraft, especially for TV broadcasts, place new demands on the stage environment. To meet these needs, we designed a completely new stage. We also developed related ancillary buildings in cooperation with the Stockholm Beauty Council and Skansen’s own curators.
The team carefully restored the original stage, Snäckan (“The Shell”), preserving its cultural value and keeping it at the centre. They designed the new stage around it, raising and deepening the stage floor while extending the roof to cover the entire stage. Built with thin ship-building plate on a steel structure, the roof enhances both function and form. The new annexes feature façades of untreated oak, which will naturally age over time to match the adjacent Öland Windmill.
New and better audience space
We redesigned the fairground to offer more and better space for the audience. Seats now stand centrally in front of the stage, framed by wooden benches made from Skansen’s own oaks. To improve accessibility, dedicated spaces for wheelchair users were added at an elevated spot near the mills. More spaces are also available beside selected rows at Sollidenplan. Removing the front row at the stage opened up the view towards Stockholm’s entrance, creating a more inviting experience.
The Solliden Stage and its new stage and fairground debuted in 2013 during Skansen’s National Day of Sweden celebration on June 6th. The following weekend, a dedication concert featured Radio Sweden’s Symphony Orchestra, Tommy Körberg, and Amanda Sedgwick.
Several Skansen projects by Tengbom
- Ironmonger’s building: The ironmonger’s building in the town quarter was completed in keeping with Skansen’s ambitions as a copy of an existing building from the 1880s in Hudiksvall.
- The Skansen Shop: In 2010-2011, we renovated The Skansen Shop, previously the Alhambra restaurant, in order to create more appropriate premises for office, storage and accommodation rooms.
- Lill-Skansen: We participated in a parallel engagement for a new Lill-Skansen children’s zoo.
- New buildings for wild boar and European bison: We designed a new building in 2007 for two wild boar families and a building for European bison.
- Dressing-room building: Design of a new dressing-room building at the Galejan dance pavilion is under way in 2016.
