Could this building speak what tales would it tell? Right here stands the Biologiska Museet. It is a testament to a unique vision of presenting nature. Founded by Gustaf Kolthoff, the Biologiska Museet opened its doors in 1893. Kolthoff wanted to display Scandinavian mammals and birds in their natural habitats.
Agi Lindegren designed the Biologiska Museet. He drew inspiration from medieval Norwegian stave churches. The building itself is a work of art. Its facade and roof are clad in tarred wood shingles. The portal’s wood carvings echo those of Borgund Stave Church. The Biologiska Museet became a highlight of the Stockholm Exhibition in 1897. Originally, the facade read: “Unique in its kind. Wildlife panorama. Without equal in the world.”
Step inside the Biologiska Museet. You will find no electric lighting. Instead, daylight streams through large skylights. This creates a sense of natural life. The Biologiska Museet is one of only four museums created by Gustaf Kolthoff. The others are in Åbo, Uppsala, and Södertälje. All four feature dioramas displaying different natural environments. They showcase many taxidermied animals.
The Biologiska Museet’s exhibits feature stuffed animals. These animals are arranged with natural objects. Painted backgrounds give an illusion of depth. The exhibition spaces span three floors. On the ground floor, you’ll find the entrance hall and ticket counter. There is also a cave from Spitsbergen. A valley from eastern Greenland is also displayed. Kjell Kolthoff painted these background scenes. He was the son of the museum’s founder.
A central wooden staircase leads to the dioramas. These can be viewed through windows. The windows span two floors in a 360-degree panorama. Various landscape types are on display. These range from inland to coastal environments. All animals that dwell there are featured. Bruno Liljefors created all the background paintings here. He collaborated with Gustaf Fjæstad. The building houses about 300 stuffed Nordic animal species. The Biologiska Museet pioneered the use of dioramas on a grand scale. This recreated natural environments. Later, large natural history museums in New York and Chicago adopted this method.
The panorama is lit only by daylight. This gives viewers different impressions. The impressions vary depending on the season. Time of day and weather conditions also affect it. In 2008, a fire broke out in one of the outer walls. Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze. The museum was minutes from being completely destroyed. Guards at a nearby road barrier alerted authorities. They began extinguishing the fire. This saved the Biologiska Museet. None of the museum’s objects or paintings were damaged. The fire was suspected to be arson.
The County Administrative Board declared the Biologiska Museet a listed building in 2018. This means the museum has significant cultural-historical value. It must be preserved for the future. The Biologiska Museet cannot be demolished, moved, or rebuilt. This also applies to the building’s interior. The layout, fixed furnishings, and dioramas’ painted decor must remain unchanged.
The County Administrative Board justified the decision. They stated that the Biologiska Museet’s exhibitions uniquely convey knowledge. It reflects museum practices and zoological science paradigms of the late 19th century. The panorama exhibition has high artistic and art historical value. This is especially true for the exhibition’s decorative painting. The building has architectural historical value. Its national romantic style draws inspiration from Norwegian stave churches.
In August 2017, the Biologiska Museet closed for renovation. The building was in poor condition. Visitor numbers were low. Funds for maintenance were lacking. Skansen owns the Biologiska Museet. In November 2023, they announced that restoration was ongoing. They hoped to reopen it to visitors within two to three years.
The Biologiska Museet stands as a reminder. It reminds us of a time when museums sought to immerse visitors. They sought to immerse them in the natural world through artful displays. Though currently closed, its legacy endures. It awaits a new chapter in its long history.