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A grand entrance with glass tetraptych (left) depicts the long journey from Sweden to Australia.
Swedish Ambassador His Excellency Henrik Cederin at the official residence of Sweden in Yarralumla.
The formal sitting room with she-oak parquetry flooring holds significant items of Swedish culture and art. Photos: Kerrie Brewer.
Step inside: official residence of Sweden in Canberra WITH HOME EDITOR, CASSANDRA POWER
Is there a country more synonymous with interior design than Sweden? The official Swedish residence in Yarralumla speaks to the famous stylish simplicity, minimalism and functionality that defines Scandinavian design, while a conversation with Ambassador His Excellency Henrik Cederin gives the design philosophy context, showing how it permeates Swedish life. In 1947, then Consul-General Constans Lundquist kickstarted the Swedes’ official Canberra residence by hiring his architect
brother Edvard. Edvard created a long, white, twostorey building with copper roof and trademark Swedish blue accents for an authentic Scandinavian look. The scarcity of materials and industrial strikes of postWorld-War-II Australia delayed construction on the 30,000 sqm site, and Edvard died before the building’s 1951 completion. Today, the residence holds significant items of Swedish culture and art. A grand entrance with glass
tetraptych depicts the long journey from Sweden to Australia, with Illustrations of Stockholm scenes and characters, the voyage across oceans, and Australian icons etched into the glass panels. The formal sitting room with she-oak parquetry flooring and Swedish marble-topped fireplace has an antique chest of drawers inspired by late 18th century monarch, King Gustav III. While the detail of the house is beautiful, it remains restrained, and reflects the Swedish concept
of Largom. A word without direct translation, Mr Cederin said Largom reflects the Swedish personality. “We use it often and it means ‘just right’,” he said. “It’s a good tradeoff between extremes with a middleground solution.” Partially enclosed by glass, the large terrace looks onto a vast garden, making it the perfect place for the Swedish social phenomenon, Fika. (continued page 26)
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