Aula Magna, University auditorium in Stockholm, Sweden
Aula Magna is a university auditorium in Stockholm with a striking red brick north facade featuring varied textures and surfaces. The building incorporates roof reflectors that channel natural light through skylights while integrating exposed bedrock in the lower foyer, combined with blonde wood, glass, and stone throughout its interior.
Architect Ralph Erskine completed this auditorium in 1997 as his final project for Stockholm University, shortly before his death in 2005. The building represents the end of a notable career in modern Scandinavian architecture.
The hall follows the design principles of ancient amphitheaters and serves the university for academic conferences, symposiums, and Nobel lectures. Visitors experience a space where scholarly exchange and knowledge-sharing take place throughout the year.
The hall accommodates roughly 1,200 people and functions without electronic amplification, making it suitable for traditional academic gatherings. Additional seminar rooms, meeting spaces, and a reading gallery supplement the main hall, offering flexible options for various types of events.
The building integrates exposed bedrock in the lower foyer not merely as a structural element but as a visual feature that emphasizes connection to Stockholm's geological setting. This incorporation of natural stone creates an unexpected spatial quality that many visitors overlook.
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