THE RISE OF
GASOMETER

1893

STOCKHOLM’S NEW GASWORKS

In December 1889, the city council made the decision to establish a new gasworks in the northern part of Stockholm, now known as Norra Djurgårdsstaden. The initial drawings were completed only a year after, and the foundation work started. Operations began in 1893 when the first gasometer entered into service.

The gasworks had just embarked on its journey to operate for over a hundred years, producing city gas for heating, lighting and cooking for the citizens of Stockholm.

The plan was to construct four and later five gasometers, as well as some twenty five supporting buildings to accommodate coal storage, pump & control rooms, purification units, offices, and other functions.

FERDINAND BOBERG

The young Swedish architect Gustaf Ferdinand Boberg and his partners were responsible for creating the general plan for the gasworks, and introducing German and English gas technology to Sweden, marking the beginning of Boberg's long partnership with the city of Stockholm.

Boberg's architectural style drew inspiration from Chicago, Lübeck, and Norberg. He is known for designing notable buildings such as Nordiska Kompaniet, LO-borgen, and Rosenbad. While his design for the gasworks was unique and distinct, it shares some similarities with the gas plant in Gävle and the electricity plant in Stockholm.

Boberg's design for the Gasometer was groundbreaking and innovative for its time, always prioritising maximum efficiency and safety. He incorporated a steel framework made by local iron carpenters and bricks from Haga Brickworks in Uppland. The decorative facade bands were made from lighter bricks purchased from Schlesien.

The gasworks received praise from the public for its unique architecture, and for Boberg, the project marked a significant milestone in his career and propelled him to the forefront of the Swedish architecture scene.

1900

GASOMETER IS BORN

The largest and best-preserved structure in the gasworks is the second gasometer. This is the historic landmark that will be known as ‘Gasometer’.

Completed in 1899 and operational in 1900, Gasometer boasted an impressive capacity of 66,000 cubic meters, making it the largest gasometer in the world at the time. It is still one of the largest structures of its kind in Europe, standing 50 meters tall with a diameter of 60 meters.

The decorative brick walls rest on a base of natural granite stone. They have thirty-two sections and an equal number of supporting columns. Each section contains three tall and narrow vertical pairs of windows. At the very top of the facade, 96 decorated windows encircle the building.

The iconic roof structure is supported by a finely meshed truss construction made of steel by Bergsunds Mekaniska Verkstad.

Boberg's design, with influences from the jugend- and national romanticism, was well respected until the 1930s, when new design ideals emerged in Sweden.

Only the first two gasometers were built as brick structures. With the advancement of technology, it was no longer necessary to have a closed structure around the storage tank, which led to the more functional and economical appearance of gasometer 3 (1912), as well as gasometer 4 (1932), with its clear influences from modernism - also known as functionalism.

TURNING COAL INTO ENERGY

In those days, operating the gasometers involved a complex process of converting coal into gas for public use. Coal gas was the method of choice from 1893 to 1904.

The production line started at the harbour dock where the coal was unloaded and transported into long coal sheds via cableways.

It was then heated from below in special containers, in a process called dry distillation. When the coal was heated, it released gas which was then cooled and purified, to take out byproducts such as tar, ammonia water and cyanide. The gas was then pumped through pipes to the gasometers, where it was stored before being distributed to the city.

To regulate the pressure, gas was either released or pumped back into the system. Workers had to monitor the gasometers around the clock, adjusting the pressure and temperature, as even small errors in the process could lead to dangerous leaks or explosions.

THE AGE OF WATER GAS

In addition to producing coal gas, water gas production started in 1905, which reduced the need for purification. The new gasometers were built to keep up with the increasing production.

Furthermore, the sales of byproducts started to take off, especially coke, which was produced during the gas distillation process.

1950

THE AGE OF OIL GAS

In the 1950s, the production of water gas was phased out and replaced by an oil gas plant that produced gas from oil. However, it had operational issues and caused significant pollution, so experimentation with a smaller gasification plant was initiated, also known as a ‘cracking gas plant’.

1970

THE AGE OF OIL GAS

2011

THE GASWORKS CEASES OPERATIONS

On January 18, 2011 at 6:45 AM, after more than hundred years of industrial activity, the Gasworks breathed out its gas for the last time. Since then, the gas supply for Stockholm comes from natural gas and biogas facilities located south of the city.

The area had been closed to the public as long as people could remember, and the city has been considering how to better utilize the area since the 1970s. The conversion of the gasworks, from industrial site to a center for culture, was finally initiated as a central part of the development by the city.

INDUSTRIAL SITE TURNS CULTURAL HUB

From an inaccessible industrial site, the area of Norra Djurgårdsstaden will soon be home to more than 15,000 residents, 35,000 office occupants, 11 pre-schools, schools, museums, sports hall and 600,000 square meters of commercial space.

Numerous public transport options will be available, with subway station Hjorthagen situated just 100 meters away, in addition to bus connections, and much appreciated walking and cycling trails to and from the city center.

2026

ONE LANDMARK — TWO VENUES

The Theater is located inside a new structure within the existing structure. The brick walls of the Gasometer remain untouched, serving as a reminder of Stockholm's industrial past and its ongoing transformation into a modern and vibrant part of the city.

On top of the Theater, there will be the Dome - a stunning event space that can be combined with the Theater to offer new and innovative entertainment concepts, suitable for 2026 and beyond. The magnificent roof has been reconstructed to meet modern sustainability and safety standards, while preserving the original structure and the aesthetic appeal of the original meshed steel.

Gasometer will be owned by the city and operated by Cirkus Venues, with the common ambition of creating a venue that attracts both the local communities, performers, and visitors from all over the world.

CIRKUS VENUES’ VISION

Cirkus Venues' vision for Gasometer is to transform it into a state-of-the-art entertainment venue and a hub for creativity and culture.

With its iconic architecture and rich history, it is a unique space that lends itself to a wide range of entertainment such as theater, music concerts, live shows, exhibitions, fairs, corporate events or product launches.

By facilitating the most innovative entertainment experiences to audiences and performers alike, we aim to put Stockholm on the map as the live entertainment capital of Scandinavia.