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If you’re looking for a home that can also help you get your steps in ... because there's no elevator ... then this former Swedish water tower is just the ticket. The Vaxholm water tower is located on a small island in the Stockholm archipelago, just 20 miles from the Swedish capital. It was built in 1923 by Swedish architect Cyrillus Johansson, who also designed the Museum of Varmland. It has a cylindrical, wedding-cake design, topped by a copper-clad observatory and wind vein by Swedish sculptor Aron Sandberg. The red brick industrial structure is currently on the market for $1.95M USD and was in service for 50 years before being decommissioned. It was sold to the current owner in 2000 and has undergone extensive renovations to become a four-bedroom home with living spaces set across four levels. On the first floor is the kitchen, living and dining area with arched brick windows and a soaring 16-ft-high ceiling. Bedrooms are stacked on the levels above as well as a plywood-lined music room. If you’re afraid of heights, this may not be the property for you, as the fifth and sixth floors are accessed only via a narrow spiral staircase. Originally the tower’s water tank, it’s now used to house telecoms equipment—the roof is dotted with antennas from telecoms firms, generating rental income for the owners to the tune of nearly 300K per year; in addition, a separate studio apartment on the property also creates rental income. If you like Sweden and living tall, then maybe this one’s for you!                  |
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
Architecture Wednesday: Converted Water Tower
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That is awesome!!!! So unique and different. You had me though at Stockholm archipelago!!! I love it. I could live there and think of the views. Mind you the main bathroom would need updating...it gives me the willies seeing this one...reminds me of old steam works worn down where a horror movie should be filmed, but nothing white metro tile can't fix. Love the mixture of brick and woods too. No sure if the circular floor plan would get to me eventually but willing to find out!
ReplyDeleteThe bathroom in the tower is kind of dungeon-esque, but could be fixed ... it's the stairs that get me, knowing I'd forget something and spend all day going up and down!
DeleteI love this! I probably couldn’t live there because the few windows, and their positions would make me feel claustrophobic I think. But I absolutely love it. Well done!
ReplyDeleteI'd like some more views, for sure.
DeleteIt's truly cool. Very well thought out. I'm with Mitchell about the lack of windows. If I was 20 again.... But at this age? I'd be stuck on the stairway somewhere.
ReplyDeleteI'd need an elevator!!!
DeleteI like that a lot.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting.
DeleteInteresting and unusual.
ReplyDeleteI like unusual, even if this one seems too unusual!
DeleteThat's a hard pass from me, I'm terrified of heights! But it is an interesting and unique property. The income it provides would definitely be attractive to a prospective buyer.
ReplyDeleteI love the look of it, but don't know if it's for me to live in! A visit might be nice.
DeleteI like, but it is probably not for me. There was a YouTube channel, Nordic Delight out of Iceland, the couple broke up a few years ago and Kim is living in Sweden, he could use this as an art studio. Talented young man,
ReplyDeleteYeah, I agree, it's interesting but not for me.
DeleteMost interesting conversion.
ReplyDeleteI like the shape and the brick and the tower parts, but I don't wanna climb up and down all day!
DeleteWell, it's an interesting and unusual renovation, and it looks really well done, but it's hard to imagine living in it full-time. I bet it would make a great short-term rental, though. Air BnB would love it!
ReplyDeleteI agree; I could stay in it, but not live in it.
DeleteYe olde wet blanket here, this place is very depressing to me. I can't put my finger on why, but oh well.
ReplyDeleteThe horror movie brickwork? The bathroom/surgical center?
DeleteToo beige. A little blood on the walls might actually help.
DeleteOh that could be arranged ...
Delete🥰 I love the idea of living there with the beautiful view across the entire archipelago. The kitchen/gathering space is so family! I love that! I could make my knees do the climbing if I had to. I love the extra income from telecomms. But these days, for Hubby and me, the average high temperature of 46° in a tower that looks damned hard to heat means we cannot possibly do it. 🥶🥺 Besides, Hubby has Finnish heritage. Is that allowed in Sweden? 😘
ReplyDeleteDo the Swedes like the Finns?
DeleteMy knees have already put the kibosh on stairs!!!
the dog's mother
ReplyDeleteVery interesting and unusual!
xoxo :-)
Not for me, but kudos for the design.
Deletexoxo
Love the quirkiness of it all----I love the reimagining----The passive income is cool---Hell, I lived in a two-story townhouse when I was younger and hated going upstairs for needed items----I am still able to climb a good set of stairs, but this might send me over----But the views----
ReplyDeleteThe stairs already make my knees twinge just looking at them.
DeleteYou had me at 'water tower'.
ReplyDeleteI love unconventional dwellings and even though I find their spaces a little cramped (I'm more into Scandi) I think they did a fab job with the remodel. I like the kitchen very much and I'd snatch it while I can still jog up and down the stairs!!
XOXO
I like the unconventional, too, but I really would like an elevator. And I do love the brick and that main level.
Deletexoxo
It looks great but I can see no sign of a lift, so I'll have to pass on this one.
ReplyDeleteThere isn't one, Andrew, and so like you, I'll also pass!
DeleteIt's very unusual isn't it, but not for me. Mind you, I could probably save on my gym membership with all those stairs!!!
ReplyDeleteThat's a positive way of looking at the stairs; I just see myself tumbling down!
DeleteI like quite a lot of this but can't see myself living there. I really dislike that grid the lights are hanging from.
ReplyDeleteI think the grid was used because it'd be hard to drill into the walls and run wiring.
DeleteThat's cool, and all those steps would provide exercise.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie