Sveahuset, Renaissance Revival building in Gothenburg, Sweden
Sveahuset stands at Västra Hamngatan 3 with a granite and concrete facade showcasing Italian Renaissance style across three floors and an attic space. The building now houses the Elite Plaza Hotel within its walls, which underwent modifications during renovations from 1998 to 1999.
The structure was built between 1887 and 1889 by F O Peterson & Söner and served as headquarters for the Brand- & Lifförsäkringsbolaget Svea insurance company until 1970. Its role shifted afterward, eventually becoming hotel space in later decades.
The statue of Moder Svea flanked by two lions above the main entrance symbolizes Swedish identity and stands as the last rooftop statue remaining in Gothenburg. The figure shapes how locals and visitors perceive this building's place in the city's streetscape.
The building is easily accessible from the main street and situated centrally in Gothenburg, making it a short walk from the harbor area. Visitors can admire the exterior from the street and explore the hotel lobby if they wish to see the interior spaces.
Three bronze sphinxes originally decorated the roof corners until they disappeared during World War II and were never reinstalled. These ornamental figures once characterized the distinctive roofline of the former insurance headquarters.
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