Swedish 18th-century Manor Architecture in situ

For the last two weeks, a fellow colleague of mine and I, took it upon ourselves to see 18th-century manors and palaces in the regions surrounding Stockholm: Uppland and Södermanland. As I am mainly researching the Royal Palace and the palace of the hereditary prince in Stockholm, these country estates were important additions to my knowledge.

Importantly, these estates had a whole different set of functions: notably the industrial and agricultural purposes to which they were built.

In the case of Lövsta bruk, we made an exception to view it even though it is from the 17th and not 18th-century, as it had great influence on how a model estate looked in the Swedish context.

For the 18th-century buildings, we visited many. However, two made an especially lasting impression on me.

Österbybruk was a true rokoko-meringue. With its more fluid form.

Forsmark was also amazing, as I felt it created a whole complex where the building and the grounds created a whole. It very much reminded me of Frogmore cottage, where all the ponds, bridges and follies are deliberately placed.