Åhléns City, Department store in Norrmalm district, Stockholm, Sweden
Åhléns City is a large retail store in downtown Stockholm with a distinctive facade of alternating red and white concrete stripes running across the entire street-facing side. The building spreads across multiple levels with different departments for fashion, beauty, and household goods, plus parking spaces in the basement floors.
The company operated as a mail order business starting in 1899 and opened this distinctive building in 1964 to shift from catalog sales to in-person shopping. The design by Backström & Reinius received the Kasper Salin Prize in 1966 as recognition for its innovative approach.
The building stands as a modern icon in Stockholm and shapes the city skyline with its distinctive design across decades. Visitors immediately recognize the characteristic red and white facade that sets this retailer apart from other commercial complexes.
The street-level layout of the building makes navigation straightforward with multiple entrances accessible from the street and easy access to basement parking areas. This location sits in the heart of the city center with good public transportation connections and is within easy walking distance of other shopping areas.
A large copper clock finished with real gold leaf, designed by the building's architects, dominates the exterior of the complex. This timepiece serves as both a practical fixture and an artistic feature that draws attention from passersby.
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