Gothenburg City Hall, Gothenburg

Gothenburg City Hall, Gothenburg

Gothenburg City Hall stands as a complex situated at Gustaf Adolf's Square. It comprises an older segment, finalized in 1672 and crafted by Nicodemus Tessin, alongside a newer addition completed in 1936, designed by architect Gunnar Asplund.

The inception of a permanent stone town hall commenced in the mid-1660s, evidenced by foundation walls, possibly intended for a residence, on the site. Nicodemus Tessin, the Elder, was tasked with the design of the new edifice. After adjustments, the architectural blueprints were finalized by 1670. Construction was initiated in 1668 under the supervision of master mason L. Olofsson from Stockholm. By the summer of 1672, the section facing Stora Hamnkanalen was completed, with the entire structure subsequently plastered and "brushed."

As time progressed, the town hall proved inadequate in size, prompting discussions regarding expansion as early as 1885. However, it wasn't until October 22, 1936, that the scaffolding came down, revealing the sleek, functionalist extension, commonly referred to as the Asplund extension. Internally, it features a luminous town hall space with a glass facade overlooking the city. The extension is adorned with Eric Grate's relief series "The Four Winds" (1937–1941).

Historically, the town hall accommodated the former city council of Gothenburg, later transitioning to house the Gothenburg town hall court and portions of the Gothenburg district court. On February 15, 2010, the district court relocated to Rättscentrum Göteborg on Ullevigatan 15, leaving the building vacant until 2012 when it underwent renovation and transformation into Gothenburg City Hall. The reopening ceremony occurred on April 13, 2014, presided over by the municipal board chair, Anneli Hultén. Presently, it serves as the administrative hub for both municipal and city management.

Designated as a listed building on October 24, 1968, and again on October 25, 1982, Gothenburg City Hall is owned by the municipality of Gothenburg and overseen by Higab.

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Gothenburg City Hall on Map

Sight Name: Gothenburg City Hall
Sight Location: Gothenburg, Sweden (See walking tours in Gothenburg)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Gothenburg, Sweden

Create Your Own Walk in Gothenburg

Create Your Own Walk in Gothenburg

Creating your own self-guided walk in Gothenburg is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Gothenburg Introduction Walking Tour

Gothenburg Introduction Walking Tour

Gothenburg is Sweden’s second-largest city. Its river-side location has been vital in its development from a trading colony to a modern, vibrant city. Today, Gothenburg is known for its culture, fabulous cuisine, and international flair.

Gothenburg was founded in 1621 by King Gustavus Adolphus. The king gave generous tax cuts to Dutch allies and encouraged German and Scottish residents to...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
Historical Buildings Walking Tour

Historical Buildings Walking Tour

Like the majority of Swedish cities, Gothenburg is constantly re-inventing itself whilst continuing to celebrate its past. The latter is no more evident than in the city’s stunning historic architecture, manifested in a wonderful collection of stately old buildings, carefully preserved amid the relatively new ones.

Gothenburg’s architecture comes in a wide range of styles, from Gothic to...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.3 Km or 2.1 Miles