Cities
Sweden Stockholm Stockholm Museum

Swedish Centre for Architecture and Design

About

ArkDes, the Swedish Centre for Architecture and Design, is Sweden’s national museum dedicated to architecture, urban planning, and design. Located on the island of Skeppsholmen in central Stockholm, it shares a waterfront complex with Moderna Museet. The museum occupies both a historic naval drill hall and a striking modern extension designed by Rafael Moneo, blending tradition with contemporary flair. ArkDes houses one of the world’s largest architecture collections, featuring over four million drawings, photographs, and models. Its exhibitions explore the evolution of Swedish and international design, often highlighting the intersection of architecture with social and environmental issues. Visitors can engage with interactive displays, attend lectures and workshops, or relax at Café Blom in the sculpture garden. Currently undergoing a major renovation, ArkDes is set to reopen in September 2024 with refreshed exhibition spaces and a new entrance.

Stockholm Sweden
Swedish Centre for Architecture and Design
Location

The Swedish Centre for Architecture and Design, known as ArkDes, is located at Exercisplan 4 on Skeppsholmen island in Stockholm. It is housed in the same area as the Modern Art Museum (Moderna Museet), forming a cultural hub dedicated to architecture and design. ArkDes offers a comprehensive collection of over 4 million drawings, photographs, and models, and serves as a museum, study center, and forum for debate on architecture, design, and urban development. Nearby, visitors can explore other notable museums on Skeppsholmen, including the Moderna Museet and the East Asian Museum. The island itself offers scenic waterfront views and walking paths leading toward central Stockholm, providing a blend of vibrant cultural attractions and natural beauty. The location is accessible by public transport, including nearby ferry docks (though construction occasionally affects this access), and bus routes serving the area.

Vasamuseet Vasamuseet Museum ABBA The Museum ABBA The Museum Museum Skansen Skansen Museum Fotografiska Fotografiska Museum Nordic Museum Nordic Museum Museum Moderna Museet Moderna Museet Museum Livrustkammaren Livrustkammaren Museum Historiska Museet Historiska Museet Museum Junibacken Junibacken Museum Kungliga Slottet Kungliga Slottet Castle Drottningholms Slott Drottningholms Slott Castle Gripsholm Castle Gripsholm Castle Castle Rosersberg Palace Rosersberg Palace Castle Kungsträdgården Kungsträdgården Park Royal Djurgården Royal Djurgården Park Bergianska trädgården Bergianska trädgården Botanical Garden Hagaparken Hagaparken Park Östermalms Saluhall Östermalms Saluhall Market Hötorgshallen Hötorgshallen Market Hornstulls Marknad Hornstulls Marknad Market Bondens Egen Marknad Bondens Egen Marknad Market Gamla Stan Gamla Stan Tourist attractions Stortorget Stortorget Square Stadshuset Stadshuset Town Hall Sergels Torg Sergels Torg Square Gustav Adolfs Torg Gustav Adolfs Torg Square Järnpojke Järnpojke Monument Royal Swedish Opera Royal Swedish Opera Opera House Royal Dramatic Theatre Royal Dramatic Theatre Theatre Kulturhuset Stadsteatern Kulturhuset Stadsteatern Culture Center Södra Teatern Södra Teatern Theatre SkyView SkyView Tourist attractions Gröna Lund Gröna Lund Amusement park Södermalm Södermalm Island Nationalmuseum Nationalmuseum Museum Viking Museum Viking Museum Museum Stockholm City Museum Stockholm City Museum Museum The Nobel Prize Museum The Nobel Prize Museum Museum Tekniska museet Tekniska museet Museum Medelhavsmuseet Medelhavsmuseet Museum Naturhistoriska riksmuseet Naturhistoriska riksmuseet Museum Biologiska museet Biologiska museet Museum Armémuseum Armémuseum Museum Polismuseet Polismuseet Museum Sjöhistoriska museet Sjöhistoriska museet Museum Ekonomiska museet Ekonomiska museet Museum Etnografiska museet Etnografiska museet Museum Judiska museet Judiska museet Museum Scenkonstmuseet Scenkonstmuseet Museum Postmuseum Postmuseum Museum Carl Eldhs Ateljémuseum Carl Eldhs Ateljémuseum Museum Thielska Galleriet Thielska Galleriet Museum Prince Eugen’s Waldemarsudde Prince Eugen’s Waldemarsudde Museum Östasiatiska museet Östasiatiska museet Museum Liljevalchs Konsthall Liljevalchs Konsthall Gallery Galleri Magnus Karlsson Galleri Magnus Karlsson Gallery Andréhn-Schiptjenko Andréhn-Schiptjenko Gallery Wetterling Gallery Wetterling Gallery Gallery Bonniers Konsthall Bonniers Konsthall Gallery Galleri Forsblom Galleri Forsblom Gallery CFHILL Art Space CFHILL Art Space Gallery Galleri Flach Galleri Flach Gallery Stockholm Old Observatory Stockholm Old Observatory Observatory