On the island of Skeppsholmen in central Stockholm, a pale, eight-sided building rises under a low green dome. Consecrated in 1842, it was built for the sailors of the Swedish navy. Today it is the Eric Ericson Hall, named after the conductor who did so much to make Sweden a nation of choirs.

When a building loses its purpose

For well over a century the church served the naval base on Skeppsholmen. In 1969 the fleet moved to Muskö and the parish came to an end, and the church was deconsecrated in 2001. In 2009 a careful renovation removed the fixed pews, and the building received a new name and a new purpose.

A room adapted for many uses

Since 2015, an acoustic chandelier and sound-absorbing drapes have made it possible to set the reverberation between 2.5 and 5 seconds. The same room can suit a choir or an orchestra as well as jazz, opera, pop or folk music. It also hosts weddings, dinners and conferences, with room for up to 430 guests at dinner on 600 square metres of open floor.

That is what makes the hall a good example of place development. The heritage has been kept, and the building has found a use that brings new people to the island.

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Text and photo: Ylva Hedman