Gunnar Asplund was a pioneering Swedish architect whose influence helped define the transition from Nordic Classicism to Functionalism in the early 20th century. Though not primarily known as a visual artist, his architectural drawings and designs are valued today for their artistic merit, clarity and historical significance. Asplund combined a refined sense of proportion with modernist ideals, shaping key buildings that came to symbolise Sweden’s architectural evolution.
Chair, made for the restaurant at the department store Bredenbergs in Stockholm.
A Bridge Between Styles
Asplund’s early works were marked by a classical elegance, typical of the so-called Nordic Classicism of the 1910s and 1920s. His later designs, however, embraced a bolder, more streamlined modernism. This stylistic transition is most clearly seen in the Woodland Crematorium at Skogskyrkogården in Stockholm—a UNESCO World Heritage Site co-designed with Sigurd Lewerentz. The project remains one of the most influential works of 20th-century architecture, notable for its poetic spatial composition and integration with the surrounding landscape.
Ceiling lamp, clubbed for 2 963 GBP at Stockholms Auktionsverk.
Drawings with Lasting Value
Although primarily an architect, Asplund’s hand-drawn sketches and plans—ranging from public buildings and libraries to exhibition pavilions—are appreciated for their artistic quality and historical insight. His work on the Stockholm Public Library (1928) exemplifies this duality, where design and draftsmanship converge. These original architectural drawings are today sought after as cultural artefacts in their own right, prized by collectors interested in Swedish modernism and architectural heritage.