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Opera by the sea - a thesis on the democratization of theatre architecture

Sonesson, Axel LU (2021) In 1st edition AAHM01 20211
Department of Architecture and Built Environment
Abstract
By studying the process behind two examples of Swedish theatre architecture - Malmö City Theater and the Gothenburg Opera, the defining cultural and political developments of the 20th century can be explored. In the wake of the first world war, processes of democratization and totalitarianism spread throughout Europe. The volksbühne (people’s theater) would quickly find its home in Sweden, manifested in the Malmö City Theatre inaugurated in 1944. In the decades following the world wars, the political movements of the 60’s would put new demands on the democratization of the theatre, which would test its architecture to the limits. In the midst of conflict between generations and classes, visions of an opera stage in Gothenburg were born,... (More)
By studying the process behind two examples of Swedish theatre architecture - Malmö City Theater and the Gothenburg Opera, the defining cultural and political developments of the 20th century can be explored. In the wake of the first world war, processes of democratization and totalitarianism spread throughout Europe. The volksbühne (people’s theater) would quickly find its home in Sweden, manifested in the Malmö City Theatre inaugurated in 1944. In the decades following the world wars, the political movements of the 60’s would put new demands on the democratization of the theatre, which would test its architecture to the limits. In the midst of conflict between generations and classes, visions of an opera stage in Gothenburg were born, but due to the political climate the city would have to wait four decades to see it come to realization in 1994.

Centering around these two buildings, this thesis aims to tell the story of how Swedish theatre architecture evolved in the 20th century, connecting it with today’s demands for a modern opera stage in Gothenburg. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Sonesson, Axel LU
supervisor
organization
alternative title
Operakajen - ett examensarbete om demokratiseringen av teaterarkitekturen
course
AAHM01 20211
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
architecture, theatre, malmö, teater, stadsteater, opera, göteborg, gothenburg, sigurd lewerentz, arkitektur, erik lallerstedt, david helldén, sven markelius, folke hjortzberg, david dahl, olof thunström, axel anderberg, august ewe, göteborgsoperan, teaterarkitektur, max reinhardt, erik bulow-hübe
publication/series
1st edition
language
Swedish
id
9064629
date added to LUP
2021-09-03 08:53:01
date last changed
2021-09-03 08:53:01
@misc{9064629,
  abstract     = {{By studying the process behind two examples of Swedish theatre architecture - Malmö City Theater and the Gothenburg Opera, the defining cultural and political developments of the 20th century can be explored. In the wake of the first world war, processes of democratization and totalitarianism spread throughout Europe. The volksbühne (people’s theater) would quickly find its home in Sweden, manifested in the Malmö City Theatre inaugurated in 1944. In the decades following the world wars, the political movements of the 60’s would put new demands on the democratization of the theatre, which would test its architecture to the limits. In the midst of conflict between generations and classes, visions of an opera stage in Gothenburg were born, but due to the political climate the city would have to wait four decades to see it come to realization in 1994. 

Centering around these two buildings, this thesis aims to tell the story of how Swedish theatre architecture evolved in the 20th century, connecting it with today’s demands for a modern opera stage in Gothenburg.}},
  author       = {{Sonesson, Axel}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{1st edition}},
  title        = {{Opera by the sea - a thesis on the democratization of theatre architecture}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}