Our history

In 1893, minister Anders Lignell donated a collection of archeological findings to Karlstad Grammar School. This is regarded as the year when the idea of a Värmlands Museum was first conceived.

Värmlands naturhistoriska och fornminnesförening, (Värmland Natural and Ancient Monument Society) which was grounded in 1862 was designated to preserve the collection which increased over the years. It was first housed in the grammar school building, premises which were quite unsuitable for the purpose. The society tried to solve the situation but financing was a problem. But finally, in 1917 plans were drawn for building a museum.

A public appeal was made in the press where Värmland’s inhabitants were invited to become members of the society whose goal was to create a county museum in Värmland. The society, Föreningen Värmlands Länsmuseum(Värmland County Museum Society) was formed with massive support 2 July 1917. The new society concentrated its activities to funding and the question of housing the collections. The former society was assigned to preserving the museum’s collections.

In 1925 a decision was made to amalgamate the two societies with the new name of Värmlands Fornminnes- och museiförening (Värmland Ancient Monument and Museum Society). But it was not until 1926 that there was enough funding to enable them to commission the architect Cyrillus Johansson to plan the museum building on the location of Sandgrund in Karlstad.

The inaugurating of Värmlands Museum which finally took place in 1929 was a major event for the region. Professor Helge Kjellin was appointed as the director for the museum and its collections, which were now of a considerable size.

Värmlands Fornminnes- och museiförening(Värmland Ancient Monument and Museum Society) was the sole trustee for the museum untill 1980.

Stiftelsen Värmlands Museum (Värmland Museum Foundation)

Stiftelsen Värmlands Museum (Värmland Museum Foundation) was established as a foundation on the 1st January 1980 and took over the administration of the museum.

The responsible authorities were Värmland County Administrative Board, Karlstad City Council and Värmlands fornminnes- och museiförening(Värmland’Ancient Monument and Museum Society). By changing statutes in 1998 the association changed name to Värmlands Museiförening (Värmland Museum Society).

Cyrillushuset (Cyrillus building) 1929

Värmlands Museum built on Sandgrundsudden and designed by the architect Cyrillus Johansson was inaugurated in 1929. The site was a narrow land promontory created by the sediment deposited there by the river Klarälven since the middle of the the 19th century. Cyrillus Johansson created a museum building with a dignified style inspired by traditional Chinese architecture and other Eastern influences. Also apparent are contemporary influences from the 1920’s classical style and Swedish national romanticism’s love of natural materials and handcrafts.

The somewhat ponderous, austere style of the building is lightened by the curved lines of the roof. In spite of the closed walls there is a view through the whole building. The mirror pond communicates by the vista through the museum entrance doors and the spacious open inner courtyard to the river’s waters. The building’s mortar facade, is so thinly applied that the structure of the bricks underneath can be discerned. The inner courtyard is richly decorated with motifs carved in the mortar portraying the Finnish settlers’ cultivation of the forests in Värmland.

Cyrillus Johansson

Cyrillus Johansson (1884-1959) was born in the town of Gävle. He qualified as an architect at CTH, (Chalmers University of Technology), in Gothenburg and went on to study at Konstakademien (The Royal Academy of Fine Arts) in Stockholm in 1908. He opened his own architectural firm in 1910 and worked there until his death. Cyrillus Johansson was strongly influenced by Swedish handicraft traditions. His favourite materials were bricks and Swedish red painted wooden panel. But with these ideals he fell out of favour with the broader architectural influences of the 1930’s functionalistic architecture.

1939

The then Värmlands Fornminnes- och museiförening (Värmland Ancient Monument and Museum Society) bought von Echstedtska gården (von Echstedt Manor) in Västra Smedbyn in 1939.

Nyrénhuset 1998

The extension to Värmlands Museum designed by architect Carl Nyrén was completed in 1998. Relating to the distinctive architecture of the earlier building was a challenge. It resulted in a building with seven gently curved facades. This device contributes to diminishing the impression of the building’s size. The sweeping lines also communicate in another form of expression than the earlier buildning’s austere solemnity. Nyrén’s ambition was to create a building with an identity of its own without competing with the original building. A building as he described it ” is respectful and respectless of its predecessor”.

Carl Nyrén wanted to design a more unpretentious buildning than its predecessor but with a distinctive style of its own. More resembling a playfull garden pavilion or building, compared to the original main building. With the Swedish traditional red painted panels and the large windows, the Nyrén extension is characterised by a warm, open atmosphere. With an open outlook itbeckons the visitors. The most important factor for Nyrén was light. Exhibitions are lit by windows and skylights. Expansive glazed areas in the N.W. render contact with the river outside.

Carl Nyrén

Carl Nyrén (1917-2011) educated as an architect at KTH and qualified in 1942. In 1948 he established the architectural firm of Nyréns Arkitektkontor in Stockholm which is still active. Born in the county village of Hovslätt in Småland, he is recognized as one of the most important influences of Swedish architecture in his time. His work compromises mostly larger projects such as churches, official and commercial buildings e.g. Jönköping railway station, Pharmacia laboratories, Stockholms Sparbank and museum buildings. Not only did he design Värmlands Museum but also Vitlycke Museum in Tanum, the extension for Jönköping County Museum and the Visitors’ Centre at Uppsala högar. (Uppsala ancient gravemounds)