ICA in Gothenburg

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Found these great vintage photos taken at two different ICA stores in Gothenburg, Sweden. Most likely taken for publicity reasons for use in catalogs or magazines. ICA is one the largest retail chains in Sweden, started back in 1938 today boasting over 1600 stores nationwide. Can't help thinking how Americanized the ICA Bergköp store looks like.

ICA Bergköp store, Gothenburg, Sweden, early 1960s

ICA Bergköp store, Gothenburg, Sweden, early 1960s

ICA Tynnered Center, Gothenburg, Sweden, early 1970s

Shopping Spree - Part 8

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More retro photos of Domus stores in Sweden. Why? Because it's good for you. Someone please bring back Domus, we miss you. Oh and clean up on aisle three.

Related posts
Shopping Spree - Part 1
Shopping Spree - Part 2
Shopping Spree - Part 3
Shopping Spree - Part 4
Shopping Spree - Part 5
Shopping Spree - Part 6
Shopping Spree - Part 7

Domus store, Nyköping, Sweden, 1976

Domus store, Söderhamn, Sweden, 1963

Domus store, Vimmerby, Sweden, early 1970s

Shopping Spree - Part 7

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We haven't visited the golden age of shopping for a while, so why not take a waltz down the aisles once again. This time we are focusing on the Swedish department store chain Domus (house in latin). It was owned by the Consumer Corporation (KF) who in their glory days had over 200 stores throughout the country. Sadly, business was slowly beginning to come to a halt in the 1980s and many of the bigger stores were redeveloped to mini malls or sold. Personally I think that the Domus stores still are the coolest stores ever to exist and Sweden and I miss them in a silly - but kitschy way.

For those who are interested in learning more about Domus, there is a great documentary by Swedish filmmaker Anders Wahlgren available.

Related posts
Shopping Spree - Part 1
Shopping Spree - Part 2
Shopping Spree - Part 3
Shopping Spree - Part 4
Shopping Spree - Part 5
Shopping Spree - Part 6

Domus store, unknown location, Sweden, early 1960s


Domus store, Örebro, Sweden, late 1960s


Domus store, Halmstad, Sweden, early 1980s


Domus store, Kiruna, Sweden, early 1970s

Arne Jacobsen

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This is the third post in my series about my favorite architects from the golden days of architecture. We are going back to Scandinavian design again, allow me to introduce Arne Jacobsen, one of the forefathers of Danish Modernism and Functionalism.

Born in Copenhagen 1902, educated at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, School of Architecture in Copenhagen and professor at the Academy between the years 1956-65. Jacobsen was both an architect and designer, his most famous works include The Ant chair, Model 3107 chair, The Egg chair, St Catherine’s College, University of Oxford, SAS Royal Hotel Copenhagen and Bellavista in Klampenborg. Personally, I have always admired the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen, not only because it was Denmark's first skyscraper but for its clean design and the use of material. The hotel is located right next to the Tivoli (amusement park) and the Central Train station, which makes it a ideal place to stay if you are ever in Copenhagen.

When the hotel was built in 1960 it had a separate check-in and waiting area for people traveling with SAS from the Copenhagen International Airport. Buses would wait outside to transport the passengers to the airport itself. The terminal was located at the ground floor of the hotel, next to the lobby and was built to resemble the look of a airport. It was probably a very convenient service for the jet setters of the 1960s, but it was eventually discontinued. The hotel has obviously changed a lot over the years, but they have kept one room (606) in its original design, which also happens to be available to stay in if you want to experience a blast from the past.

PS. Happy birthday Ultra Swank, two years old September 1.

Related links
Official site
SAS Royal Hotel room design

Related posts
Eero Saarinen
Mies van der Rohe
The Crown Prince of Malmö


The Egg Chair, Arne Jacobsen, 1958


SAS Royal Hotel, exterior, Copenhagen, 1960s


SAS Royal Hotel, lobby, Copenhagen, 1960s


SAS Royal Hotel, restaurant, Copenhagen, 1960s


SAS Royal Hotel, SAS terminal, Copenhagen, 1960s

1964 New York World's Fair

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I have two favorite World's Fair expositions. The first one being the 1962 held in Seattle, also known as 'Century 21', the second one is the fair that was held in Queens, New York in 1964. It was the largest World's Fair ever hosted, and the theme for it was "Peace Through Understanding". This was represented through a huge model of the Earth called the 'Unisphere' which still stands there today. Like the fair in Seattle in 1962, this fair was mostly remembered for its mid century American corporate culture, bright plans for the future and 'Space Age' design. It was also the place where Walt Disney created and tested his system for 'audio-animatronics' which was used for several rides on the fair, i.e. Ford's 'Magic Skyway' and General Electric's 'Carousel of progress'.

More than 50 million people from all over the world visited the fair, but the fair had proven to be too costly and was not able to repay its financial backers. The fair closed permanently in 1970, however some of the buildings and pavilions survived. The most famous one is the 'Unisphere' which has become a symbol for Queens.

Related links
Wikipedia
Archive.org (movie)


The Unisphere, Worlds Fair, New York, 1964


Panorama showing one corner, Worlds Fair, New York, 1964


The Ford Pavilion designed by Disney, Worlds Fair, New York, 1964


Monorail, Worlds Fair, New York, 1964. From nycsubway.org

Retro Stockholm

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Since it is summer and very warm outside I am feeling kind of lazy. But I thought I would post two summer inspired photos depicting how Stockholm looked back in the late 1960s / early 1970s. It looks pretty much the same today, except the color of the train station which has been replaced. Enjoy!


Stockholm, Skärholmen (suburb)


Stockholm, The main train station

Eero Saarinen

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This is a continuation of my posts about my favourite architects from the golden days of architecture (this one is for you janepeepshow). Second up is Eero Saarinen, originally born in Finland in 1910. Relocated to the United States when his family emigrated there in 1923, where he began to study sculpture and furniture design. Saarinen however pursued his ambition to become an architect, his resume contains over 20 buildings.

My favorite Saarinen buildings are the TWA Flight Center at JFK Kennedy Airport in New York and the Dulles International Airport in Washington D.C. The Trans World Airlines terminal at JFK is out of this world. The building was built for TWA in 1962 and is totally ultra futuristic and cool. "It was the first airline terminal to have closed circuit television, a central p/a system, baggage carousels, an electronic schedule board..." (source). It has become a landmark which has been featured in many movies, like 'Catch Me if You Can' and 'Death Wish'. The interior looks so swank and futuristic, it is really the essence of what modern jet travel was about in the 1960s. Too bad that they do not build airports like this any longer.

When TWA was bought by American Airlines in 2001 the building fell into decline and was decommissioned. It has then been used as a exhibition center for various events until 2005 when Jet Blue started constructing its new terminal next to it which will incorporate Saarinen's ultra cool building as a front.

Related links
More photos of the TWA Terminal 5 building


TWA Terminal 5 at JFK, New York (recent photo)


TWA Terminal 5 at JFK, New York,1990s. Photo by Kjell Nilsson.


TWA Terminal 5 at JFK, New York (recent photo)


Dulles International Airport, Washington D.C., 1960s

Mies van der Rohe

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I have a passion for amazing architecture and special types of buildings. Hard to describe the feeling you get when looking at something beautiful, it is like a gut feeling and it feels pleasant.

I have been thinking for quite some time now of getting some posts up of favorite architects from the golden days of architecture, thank you janepeepshow for your inspiration ;-) First off is 'Ludwig Mies van der Rohe', usually just refered to as 'Mies van der Rohe'. Born in Germany in 1886, immigrated to America in the 1930s where he started his career in Chicago as head of the architecture school the 'Armour Institute of Technology'. A legend who not only drew buildings but also designed some great looking furniture. His most famous work include the 'Barcelona chair', the 'Brno chair', the 'Seagram' building and the 'Barcelona Pavilion'. His 'Barcelona' chair is considered a classic design piece of the early 20th century and if you want to get your hands on one will probably have to pay a small fortune for it today.

My 'Mies van der Rohe' favourite is the 'Seagram' building located at 375 Park Avenue in New York. Built in 1958 as one of the finest examples of corporate modernism. The building it self has been used as a back drop in numerous movies and commercials. The best example in my opinion is the excellent movie 'The Best of Everything' which is a time piece about working girls in New York in the late 1950s. All exteriors were shot at location. The interiors were obviously sets but very well designed sets which were based on the floor plans of the building. The movie is really good and I recommend anyone who likes light hearted dramas with a pinch of romance to see it.


'The Best of Everything', Seagram building mock up, 1959


'The Seagram building', New York City, Mies van der Rohe, 1958


The 'Barcelona' chair, Mies van der Rohe, 1929

Shopping Spree - Part 6

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Time again for another visit to some various Swedish shopping centers, as they looked back in the golden days of consuming. This time featuring Stockholm and Gothenburg. Do not forget to listen to "Retro Shopping Volume 1" while looking at the photos for the perfect mood setter.

Related posts:
Shopping Spree - Part 1
Shopping Spree - Part 2
Shopping Spree - Part 3
Shopping Spree - Part 4
Shopping Spree - Part 5



Stockholm, Täby Centrum, 1970s


Stockholm, Täby Centrum, 1970s


Gothenburg, Frölunda Torg, 1970s


Gothenburg, Frölunda Torg, 1970s

NK in Malmo

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Here are two postcards showing the old NK department store in Malmö, Sweden. NK (Nordiska Kompaniet / The Nordic Company) is one of the oldest merchandise companies in Sweden. The first, and biggest store opened in Stockholm in 1915 and featured Sweden's first escalators. Soon NK also had stores in Gothenburg and Malmö. The department store in Malmö was opened in 1963, but it was short lived due to very high maintenance costs. I remember visiting NK in Malmö when I was younger in the mid 1980s, I believe that the store was closed just a couple of years later. The building still stands there today, but it has been converted to a indoor shopping arcade called Hansa Compagniet - a very boring and typical looking shopping place.


Nordiska Kompaniet, Malmö, Sweden (early 1970s)


Nordiska Kompaniet, Malmö, Sweden (early 1970s)

Vala Centrum

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Väla Centrum is a shopping mall located in southern Sweden just outside of Helsingborg. Been planing on writing about it for a long time now but have not been able to find anything useful - until now. This is the mall I grew up with. Many many Friday evenings and Saturdays were spent here when I traveled there going shopping with my family as a kid back in the 1980s and early 1990s.

Väla Centrum was built in 1974 and was at its opening the largest shopping center in southern Sweden with 20 stores, two large "anchor stores" (Wessels and Obs!), a restaurant and a cafe. The three photos below were found on a postcard dating back the late 1970s. Pay attention to the cool interior and color scheme, not forgetting the birdcage and "fountain" under it! This mall truly took its inspiration from the American malls that was built in the 1960s. I have never seen any other mall in Sweden which has or have had a birdcage. I actually remembering seeing canaries in it too until the late 1980s when they for one reason or another decided to remove them. The bird sculpture is namned "Fågeln" (The bird) and was created by artist Bertil Valliens. It still stands there today, but at another location (see bottom of the post for a photograph).

However a large addition was added in 1997 making the mall almost unrecognizable and a few years later they decided to remove the anchor stores and convert the space into store space for smaller shops. The only things that remind us now of its past are the groovy orange light fixtures seen below, although now in a different color scheme and with other lamps, and the bird cage. On the outside you can still see the brown 1970s brick walls, although now mostly covered with signs and added glass walls. There are also rumors that they are going to extend the mall with another 41.000 squaremeters of new store space, removing the old courtyard with its fountains and thus making the mall truly unrecognizable.

If you have any memories or comments about this mall, let them be heard in the comments section please.


The now gone "fontain" with the birdcage in its original location.


The "square". Pay attention to the groovy light fixtures and the color scheme.


One of the original Anchor stores "Wessels". Later turned into B&W (Bra & Wessels)


The birdcage as it looks today. New location, but very boring looking.