The Valhallabadet swimming pool was designed by architect Nils Olsson in 1948 and opened in 1956, write Dezeen. Over the decades, it has become an important public space, with around half a million people visiting it each year. In March this year, the cultural organisation Europa Nostra has included Valhallabadet in the list of seven European cultural heritage sites that are most at risk.
Photo: Jonathan Hökklo
“This is an outstanding building that demonstrates the high standards of the Swedish welfare state in the 1950s. It is not just a municipal swimming pool, but an architectural monument of national and even international importance,” says Veronica Heidelind, journalist and author of the book "Pool at the crossroads."
Photo: Jonathan Hökklo
The building has unique artistic value: it houses a 700-meter mosaic by artist Nils Wedel. And for the architectural project, Olsson received a bronze medal at the 1948 London Olympics.
Public organization The Facade Association initiated a petition and fundraising for a documentary about Valhallabadet. Its co-founder Filip Laurits said that the pool has been “an important social space for several generations of Gothenburg residents.”
Activists also believe that there are alternatives to demolition: for example, the Krook & Tjäder project involves renovating the complex without destroying the historic building. Architect Tinna Harling adds that in a time of economic and environmental crisis, the construction of a new arena looks “outdated and disconnected from reality.”
Photo: Jonathan Hökklo
At the same time, the regional administration Västra Götaland County Administrative Board refused to grant the pool protection status, as the decision to demolish it has already been made. The city authorities believe that Valhallabadet needs a large-scale reconstruction, and in its place they plan to build a new arena and pool, as well as four modern gyms and commercial spaces. The project was approved in 2023, and completion is expected in 2031.
"There is incredible light, preserved architecture, and a very diverse audience. It is a true cultural hub that unites the city and connects the past with the present," emphasizes photographer Jonathan Hoekklo.
Protesters believe that the demolition of Valhallabadet would be not only an architectural but also a social loss for Gothenburg.
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