Museum of Work, Working life museum in Norrköping, Sweden
The Museum of Work occupies a former textile mill called The Flat Iron, positioned alongside the Motala ström river in Norrköping's industrial district. Its exhibitions explore working life and the region's industrial heritage through multiple displays and collections.
The structure served as a textile mill for Holmens Bruk beginning in 1917, with production continuing until 1962. Following decades of change, it was converted into a museum in 1991 to document the region's industrial past.
The museum preserves personal stories and memories from workers rather than collecting typical artifacts, with their experiences documented through interviews and photographs. This approach places the lived reality of working people at the heart of its exhibitions.
The museum occupies Strykjärnet, a former weaving mill on the island of Laxholmen in the Motala ström. The building is reached by footbridges over the river, and its waterside setting means visitors should allow time to orient themselves around the industrial district. Exhibitions are spread across several floors, with the permanent Alva Karlsson display and the EWK political illustration centre as fixed points.
The building is called Strykjärnet, "the flat iron", after its wedge shape on the island of Laxholmen in the Motala ström. The photograph shows the long yellow facade with white-framed windows, circular openings and the name "ALBERT HAKANSSON" on the upper corner, with a brick chimney to the right.
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