Svampen Water Tower
Örebro län
Svampen, meaning "The Mushroom," is a landmark water tower located in the Norr district of Örebro, Sweden. Designed by architects Sune Lindström and Poul Kyhl, it was completed in 1958 to replace the older Norra and Södra water towers. The tower stands 58 meters tall and holds 9 million liters of water in its large reservoir, shaped like a mushroom cap with a diameter of 45.5 meters. Visitors can access the top via elevators to enjoy a café and event space on the terrace, offering impressive views over Örebro. To enhance safety, a protective glass enclosure was installed around the terrace in 2015, replacing an earlier net cage. Svampen has cultural significance as a concrete architectural marvel and is recognized as a listed building since 2005. It also inspired a larger replica constructed in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 1971. The tower remains a popular tourist attraction, combining functional infrastructure with social and cultural experiences such as dining and live music at the Skybar located at the summit.
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Tip: The best time to visit Svampen is during the warmer months when the terrace café is open and the panoramic views are most enjoyable. Visitors are advised to book tables at the Skybar in advance, especially for special events or holidays like Sweden's National Day. Discounts may be available for groups or special occasions. Accessibility is good with two elevators and a stairway of 300 steps for those who prefer to climb. Note that the protective glass enclosure ensures safety without compromising the view.
Interesting facts
- •Svampen holds 9 million liters of water in its reservoir, making it a significant part of Örebro's water supply.
- •The tower's reservoir was constructed on the ground and then lifted 58 meters using 32 hydraulic jacks, an engineering feat at the time.
- •A 33% larger replica of Svampen was built in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 1971, commissioned by Prince Faisal bin Abdul Aziz.
- •In 2008, Svampen was voted one of Sweden's seven concrete wonders by readers of the magazine Betong.
- •On World Diabetes Day in 2007, Svampen was illuminated in blue to raise awareness of diabetes.
- •The observation terrace features a model of the planet Neptune, part of a 2.5 km scale model of the solar system in Örebro.
History
Construction of Svampen took place between 1956 and 1958, utilizing an innovative method where the large concrete water reservoir was cast on the ground and then hydraulically lifted while the supporting shaft was built underneath.
This technique allowed the reservoir, weighing 3,200 tons, to be raised gradually at a rate of 58 centimeters per day.
Svampen replaced the older Norra and Södra water towers upon its inauguration in May 1958.
In 1971, a larger copy was built in Riyadh by request of the Saudi prince Faisal bin Abdul Aziz.
The tower was declared a protected building in 2005.
To prevent suicide attempts, a net cage was installed around the observation terrace in 2012, later replaced by a permanent glass enclosure in 2015 after public debate and architectural proposals.
Place Guide
Observation Terrace and Skybar1958
The top of Svampen features an accessible terrace with panoramic views of Örebro, hosting a café and the popular Skybar where visitors can enjoy local and international cuisine along with live music events.
Water Reservoir ("The Mushroom Cap")1956-1958
The large concrete reservoir holds 9 million liters of water and is shaped like a mushroom cap with a diameter of 45.5 meters. It was constructed on the ground and hydraulically lifted to its final position during construction.
Supporting Shaft and Foundation1956-1958
The tower's shaft measures 10.5 meters in diameter at the base, with foundations extending 10 meters into bedrock and additional reinforcements 20 meters deeper to ensure structural stability.
Contact
Phone: 019-611 37 35
