Östermalm, Älgen

Kvarteret Älgen is a historic block located in the heart of Östermalm in Stockholm. The block is bordered by Valhallavägen to the north, Brahegatan to the east, Östermalmsgatan to the south, and Sturegatan to the west. It consists of 13 properties, of which number 24 is the largest and a merger of the former properties 4, 6, and 15.

Kvarteret Älgen and its neighboring blocks are the result of the Lindhagen Plan of 1866. These blocks, including Älgen, bear names associated with wild animals, reflecting the surrounding natural environment. The area lies close to the historic boundary between planned urban land and Djurgården, roughly along what is now Valhallavägen. On Petrus Tillaeus’s map from 1733, the area was known as “Djurgårds backen.” At that time, a large garden with a pavilion belonging to Kammeckers malmgård was located here. Near Älgen were Tyskbagarbergen and Kammeckerskvarn. Today’s Stureparken was established on the site in 1906.

The city plan for the area was established on 10 March 1876, and Martin Kammecker's former property, together with Tyskbagarbergen, was divided into rectangular blocks. The streets in the area were laid out between 1863 and 1896, and the Älgen District was created in 1879. Construction of the southern parts of the district began around 1880/1881 with more residential buildings such as Älgen 20 and 21. The northern parts of Älgen originally had large plots, probably intended for residential development, but this soon changed, and by 1899 the district had been more densely divided.

Kvarteret Älgen includes several properties of significant historical and cultural importance. Two of these, numbers 13 and 23, are classified as having “exceptionally high cultural heritage value” and are blue-listed by the Stockholm City Museum. Eight other properties (12, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22) are green-listed, indicating that they are considered “particularly valuable from a historical, cultural-historical, environmental, or artistic perspective.”

Älgen 5 (Sturegatan 58): Built in 1885–1886 based on designs by architects Ernst Stenhammar (faсades) and Gustaf Wilhelm Nerman (floor plans). The client and developer was Gustaf Leonard Söderman.

Älgen 12 (Valhallavägen 108 / Brahegatan 51): Built in 1886-1887 according to drawings by architects JA Wallin and O. Karlsten. The client and master builder were AW Modée.

Älgen 13 (Valhallavägen 104-106): Built in 1887-1888 according to drawings by architect Johan Laurentz. The client and master builder was Joel Nyberg.

Älgen 14 (Valhallavägen 102 / Sturegatan 64): Built in 1887-1888 according to drawings by an unknown architect. The client and master builder was PJ Hallström.

Älgen 17 (Östermalmsgatan 59 / Brahegatan 41): Built in 1881 to designs by architect Anders Gustaf Forsberg. The client was P. Richter and the master builder was AP Åhlander.

Älgen 19 (Östermalmsgatan 55 / Sturegatan 52): Built in 1881 according to drawings by architect Anders Gustaf Forsberg. The client and master builder was Olof Knutsson Hellström.

Älgen 20 (Sturegatan 54): Built in 1880-1881 according to drawings by architect Anders Gustaf Forsberg. The client was FO Pettersson.

Älgen 21 (Sturegatan 56): Built in 1880-1881 according to drawings by architect Anders Gustaf Forsberg. The client was J. Sjöqvist.

Älgen 23 (Sturegatan 60): Built in 1888-1889 according to drawings by architect Johan Laurentz. The client was Lars Magnus Elfling.

Älgen 24 (Brahegatan 45-49): Built in 1962-1965 to designs by architect Ernst Grönwall. The property replaced the former Wallenbergska villa from the 1870s. Älgen 24 is today an extensive residential and office complex with various functions and is owned by HEFAB.

Kvarteret Älgen is not only part of Stockholm’s history but also represents the city’s continuous development and transformation over time. It has become home to a wide variety of people and businesses and continues to be an important part of Östermalm’s distinctive architectural and cultural heritage.