Guldhedstornet, Water tower in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Guldhedstornet is a water tower in the Södra Guldheden district of Gothenburg, designed by architect Nils Einar Eriksson. Its cylindrical reservoir rests on a central column and 20 outer pillars with arched vaults, plus 10 inner supports, all clad in yellow brick. The tower stands 22 meters tall and reaches 122 meters above sea level.
Construction began in 1951 and the tower was inaugurated on 19 March 1953, with water released into the reservoirs in November 1952. It was designed by architect Nils Einar Eriksson, while Professor Granholm at Chalmers handled the structural engineering. The 1948 cost estimate of 690,000 kronor rose to 1,290,000 kronor in 1951 after the exposed hilltop site demanded a more considered design.
The rooftop café opened to the public on 4 June 1953 and seated 40 guests; in its first six months the tower drew nearly 75,000 visitors. Inside the roof, a 32-metre wall decoration by artist Tore Ahnoff runs as a frieze, showing city motifs arranged in the same directions as the actual views. The café closed in February 2020 after the tower was classed as a security object.
The tower has been a protected security object since 2020, so the rooftop café and the interior are closed to the public. The structure stands on the height once called Wattnebergen in Södra Guldheden, at Doktor Sven Johanssons backe 10, and is best seen from the surrounding streets. Do not confuse it with the northern Guldheden tower, which was converted into student housing.
The rooftop café opened on 4 June 1953 and drew nearly 75,000 visitors in the tower's first six months. Two fully automatic radio transmitters for the water and electricity works were installed on the roof. Since 2020 the tower is a protected security object and is closed to the public.
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