Rebuilt Vildmannen 7 officially opened
An official opening ceremony was held for the rebuilt Vildmannen 7 building on August 23 in Stockholm. Located at the intersection of Biblioteksgatan and Jakobsbergsgatan, this grand 19th century building is again being filled with life and activity as the first tenants move into these modern and multi-purpose premises.
Following an impressive and complex construction process, Vildmannen 7 is once again bringing its lustre to Bibliotekstan in Stockholm. In November 2017, a devastating fire came close to completely destroying this culturally and historically significant building. However, the Swedish Roslag sandstone survived, so the unique facade could be preserved. On the inside, an entirely new building has emerged, with bright, flexible and modern office space and retail premises as well as a number of company apartments.
“This is a very special day for Hufvudstaden. A fire, like the one we suffered at Vildmannen, is a property owner’s worst nightmare. Which is why we’re so pleased and so proud that today, together with colleagues and invited guests, we were able to hold an opening ceremony that marks a fresh start for one of Stockholm’s most culturally and historically important buildings,” says Anders Nygren, Hufvudstaden CEO.
Vildmannen 7 offers a total of 4,800 square metres for rent and the rebuild has seen the creation of efficient floorplans and the introduction of several sustainable systems such as geothermal heating and solar panels.
All the building’s office floors are already rented by the Cirio law firm, and three exclusive brands – Chanel Fragrance and Beauty Boutique, French fashion brand A.P.C. and Swedish shoe and accessory brand ATP Atelier – are ready to move into the retail premises on the ground floor.
“Interest in operating businesses in the rebuilt Vildmannen 7 has been and continues to be considerable. The majority of the property’s premises are already let, and we look forward to complementing the existing tenants with the last few brands that will contribute to Bibliotekstan’s unique offering,” says Frida Wijkström, Business Area Director Stockholm, Hufvudstaden.
Press images: https://share.mediaflow.com/se/?N3HERKPHP5
If you have any questions regarding this release, please contact:
Anna Gustafsson, acting press contact Hufvudstaden, anna.gustafsson@hufvudstaden.se, +46 (0)70 710 74 12
Appendix: Vildmannen 7 details
Vildmannen 7 was built between 1895 and 1897 and was designed by two architects: Erik Josephson designed the exterior, while Gottfrid Karlsson was responsible for the interior. Josephson took inspiration from contemporary English architecture, which in the late 19th century was influenced by new interpretations of the national romantic Tudor style. The building was decorated with floral ornaments and depictions of birds. Biblioteksgatan’s oak gate was decorated with reliefs representing various crafts. These were produced by prominent sculptor Christian Eriksson.
Over the years, Vildmannen 7 has undergone a series of reconstructions. The most extensive of those took place between 1935 to 1941. The ground floor shopfront was rebuilt with concrete and moving the windows outwards. Architect Cyrillus Johansson redesigned the facade. On the inside, offices were built facing Biblioteksgatan, while the residential space facing Jakobsbergsgatan was renovated.
Following the fire in November 2017, architects Stadion Arkitekter was commissioned to design the new building to be erected inside the preserved facade. The newbuild provided the opportunity to create efficient floorplans and the introduction of several sustainable systems such as geothermal heating and solar panels. More space has allowed the addition of apartments and offices, while the courtyard has been redesigned and more daylight has been let in with the removal of a wall facing the adjoining property. The entire building receives attractive amounts of daylight through the courtyard’s large glass sections and French balconies.
Biblioteksgatan’s grand entrance motif and the beautiful oak gate have been preserved. Inside, the entrance has a new spectacular spiral staircase, which is beautifully lit by a skylight.
