Swedish Centre for Architecture and Design, Architecture and design museum in Skeppsholmen, Stockholm, Sweden.
The Swedish Centre for Architecture and Design, known as ArkDes, occupies two connected buildings on Skeppsholmen: the Navy's old drill hall, Exercishuset, designed by Fredrik Blom, and a functionalist building by Rafael Moneo completed in 1997. The Moneo building houses offices, a library, research rooms, workshops and the State Architecture Collection; the drill hall holds the exhibition halls.
The Museum of Architecture was founded on 10 November 1962 by the National Association of Swedish Architects as a private foundation, opening in 1966 in the former Nautical Chart Department building on Skeppsholmen. It became a state authority in 1978, and in 2009 its mandate was widened to include design. In February 1998 it moved into premises by Rafael Moneo, and in 2013 it took the name Swedish Centre for Architecture and Design.
Each December ArkDes holds its Gingerbread House competition, open to architects, designers, bakers, amateurs and children. Entries built from gingerbread, sweets and icing are shown in three categories — architects/designers/bakers, up to 12 years, and everyone else — with a jury winner in each and a public vote for the Audience Prize.
ArkDes occupies two connected buildings on Skeppsholmen: the exhibitions are in Fredrik Blom's old navy drill hall, Exercishuset, while the entrance, library and archives are in Rafael Moneo's 1994–1997 building, linked to Moderna Museet. The museum closed for rebuilding in 2023 and reopened in September 2024 with a new entrance and collection display, so check current opening times before visiting.
Each December ArkDes holds its Gingerbread House competition, open to adults and children, amateurs and professionals, who build creations from gingerbread, sweets and icing. Entries compete in three categories — "Architects, designers and bakers", "Up to 12 years" and "Everyone else who bakes" — with a jury winner in each and a public Audience Award.
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