Riddarhuset (House of Nobility)

Riddarhuset (House of Nobility, or litterally: "Knights' house") was built during the great power era of Sweden in 1641-1674. It is located in the north-west part of Old Town, between the castle and Riddarholmen. Basically, Riddarhuset comes across as the very best example in Sweden of pallandian architecture which is a product of those executing, middle-european architects.
Just until the middle 19th century, Riddarhuset was used as gathering quarter for the nobility. Today, Riddarhuset is essentially used for official meetings, concerts and manicured banquets.
Adjacent to the building, on the northern side, was a statue of the building's initiator Axel Oxenstierna, erected. By the same token, adject to south there is a statue of Gustav Vasa - the founder of Sweden as a modern nation state.













Riddarhuset seen from north

What about the surroundings then? Looking from north to south, Riddarhuset, is slightly covered by a small carpark. On all other sides, car streets surrounds the building more or less tightly. To a certain extent a distance between Riddarhuset and the rest of the old town has been created forming a both visual and functional barrier in the south (Myntgatan). To put a personal opinion on this would be to say that is is a shame to treat a vulnerable edge of the old city by imprudently drilling two major roads straight through the whole neighbourhood. This makes
Riddarhuset to form an enclave.

When people are putting their positive opinions of Stockholm as a beautiful city, they implicitly refer to inner city and particularly the old town. Nobody likes the modernistic suburbs, do they? I am no exception. Stockholm is a beautiful town...eh...well..the inner city of Stockholm is a beautiful part of the town while the outer city is just...totally identity-less. And the closer to old town, the more beautiful (i.e the older the more beautiful).