Stockholm gets a new Nobel center on the waterfront

A new Nobel Centre, a vast six-story building housing a museum and events related to the prestigious prize, will be built on the waterfront in Stockholm after the green light was given late Thursday, March 26, by the city council.

This project has sparked discontent among politicians, architects and the public, mainly because of its location in a congested area called Slussen and its appearance - four interconnected brick blocks ironically compared to the video game Minecraft.

Supporters, on the other hand, pointed out that this site created a "cultural hub" due to its proximity to the old town of the capital, the Fotografiska contemporary photography museum, and the Stockholm City Museum.

The building will house the current Nobel Museum, now located in the old town, and will host cultural events and include an auditorium for seminars on topics related to the Nobel Prizes (science, literature, peace). It will also feature restaurants and a shop, as well as ground-floor and rooftop terraces offering views of the water.

The Nobel Prizes in Medicine, Physics, Chemistry, Literature and Economics are awarded in October each year in Stockholm, before being presented to the laureates at the December ceremony.

The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded and presented in Oslo.

Former laureates will be regularly invited to events organized by the Nobel Centre.

"This will be the most powerful symbol of knowledge in the world," assured Hanna Stjärne, president of the Nobel Foundation, in January during the presentation of the detailed plans for the project.

Designed by British architect David Chipperfield, the structure will be made of wood and recycled red bricks, like Stockholm City Hall which hosts the Nobel banquet every December.

This new center is expected to cost 2,5 billion crowns (nearly 230 million euros), mainly financed by private donations.

Construction of this 13.000 square meter building is expected to begin in 2027 and be completed in 2031.