Architecture Wednesday: Converted Water Tower

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!

The Spaces