Grön eld, Umeå, Glass sculpture at Järnvägstorget, Umeå, Sweden
Grön eld is a glass sculpture at Järnvägstorget in front of Umeå Central Station, made of three thousand nine-millimeter glass plates fused together. The three tall pillars taper toward their peaks, creating the appearance of intertwined flames in transparent form.
The sculpture was completed in 1970 and held the record for being the world's largest glass work at that time. Swedish artist Vicke Lindstrand designed this nine-meter-tall installation as a monumental piece for the station plaza.
The sculpture functions as a central gathering point in front of Umeå Central Station, representing the integration of modern art into Swedish urban spaces.
The sculpture stands in an open public plaza in front of the railway station and is free to visit any time. It is designed to withstand the northern climate and remains accessible throughout the year.
An assembly worker secretly placed an image of Mao Zedong inside one of the glass pillars during construction, and it remains hidden there today. This concealed element adds an intriguing layer to what appears at first to be a purely architectural work.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
