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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.
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.
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willing to pay higher taxes; we know Meaning more than just having a we get a lot out of it.” coffee, Fika can happen anytime and Australia and Sweden tackle the is a legitimate reason to set aside a major issues of the 21st century very moment and savour quality time with differently – the Swedes set targets. colleagues, family or friends. Mr Cederin said 20 years ago, Perhaps this prioritisation of only 20% of Sweden’s ambassadors people contributes to Sweden’s were women. consistent top-ten rankings in the After having “formulated” a 50% happiest countries in the world. target, they’re nearly there with 48%. Their high-taxing, high-service In 2014, Sweden became the first government could also contribute. country to introduce a “feminist The small dining room looks out onto a grand property and is the perfect place for a Fika (a Mr Cederin said free health care foreign policy”, reinforcing the Swedish word for taking the time to have a coffee with your family or friends). and education can help ease stress, feminist credentials of a country and only happens because Swedish considered one of the best in the citizens trust their government. world for gender equality. “We are a strong welfare and “It was visionary,” he said. “But for egalitarian state, with a strong the rest of us, we had to learn, what labor movement going back 100 does it mean?” years,” he said. According to Mr Cederin, six Mr Cederin said Sweden’s tradition of free schooling years later, the inclusion of women at the table for peace and security has Only Manufacturer of contributed to an educated population. led to better outcomes. “With that mindset, a society will Only Manufacturer of Plantation Shutters in “The best brains are not always in the families with the biggest budgets. see the value in promoting women and then it can happen, but you have The Solander Garden was named after the Swedish botanist aboard Captain Cook’s Plantation Shutters in Goulburn & District and Canberra In our social contract, Swedes are to work on it with good method.” Endeavour voyage which landed in Australia in 1770. Only Manufacturer of Plantation Shutters in Goulburn & District and Canberra Installation Available in Goulburn & District and Canberra Only Manufacturer of Plantation Shutters in Goulburn & District and Canberra Installation Available in Goulburn & District and Canberra Goulburn & District and Canberra Installation Available in Goulburn & District and Canberra Only Manufacturer of Plantation Shutters in Goulburn & District and Canberra Installation Available in Goulburn & District and Canberra Only Manufacturer of Plantation Shutters in Goulburn & District and Canberra Installation Available in Goulburn & District and CanberraProudly Manufactured in Goulburn Goulburn & District and Canberra Installation Available in Goulburn & District and CanberraProudly Manufactured in Goulburn Installation Available in Goulburn & District and Canberra Proudly Manufactured in Goulburn Proudly Manufactured in Goulburn Proudly Manufactured in Goulburn Proudly Manufactured in GoulburnProudly Manufactured in GoulburnWANT A
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