The scaffolding around the red brick landmark will soon be taken down. The domed roof, a replica of the original, is in place. As are half of the burgundy chairs in front of the stage.
The facility has been named Gasometer, pronounced the same in English. The international owners behind the tourism company Miramis are careful to pronounce it that way.
The theater hall will accommodate around 1,750 seated or 2,300 standing guests. “The dome” - the venue under the roof dome - will have a capacity for 1,000 people.
“Truly spectacular”
The Gasometer is scheduled to open its doors in mid-March next year. The Royal Swedish Opera expects to run its repertoire at full capacity shortly thereafter.
The opera's CEO Fredrik Lindgren admits that some adaptation and creativity will be needed. For example, the stage here is not as deep and there is not quite the same stage technology available.
But here we have good conditions to create something truly spectacular in opera and ballet, so we are really looking forward to being here. This place can also invite new encounters with audiences, new audience relationships, says Lindgren.
The gas bells in Hjorthagen were built in the 1890s and designed by the prominent architect Ferdinand Boberg, who is also behind the NK building in Stockholm, among other things.
Wanted to design the opera house
The gas bell is as old as the Oscar-winning opera house at Gustav Adolfs torg in Stockholm. And it is fitting that it will be moved here, says Ann-Christin Danhammar, project manager at the Opera.
He (Boberg) really wanted to design the opera house, but he didn't get it. So I think he'll be really happy that he's now a part of it, she says.
Sven Leijonhufvud, project manager at the City of Stockholm, has led several even larger and more extensive construction projects, mostly tram depots, but Gasometer has been the most fun.
The hall has perfect acoustics. We have hired the best acousticians in Sweden, who have spent an incredible amount of time just on something like finding the right upholstery fabric for the 1,752 chairs, he says.
