Today, Stjärnorp Palace stands as a picturesque ruin on the shores of Lake Roxen in Sweden. In its heyday, the residence exemplified the local Baroque style, but in 1789 it was destroyed by fire after being struck by lightning and was never rebuilt. A few years ago, however, it was decided to preserve the ancient walls and open them up to visitors. The project by the Tengbom architectural practice offers a better insight into this extraordinary historic site.
Stjärnorp Palace: the seat of the Douglas family
Stjärnorp Palace was built between 1655 and 1662 on the initiative of the Scottish aristocrat and Field Marshal Robert Douglas. The design is attributed to Nicodemus Tessin the Elder, the architect of Drottningholm Palace. The residence was also immortalised by Erik Dahlbergh in his work *Suecia Antiqua et Hodierna*, published in 1697. A legend is associated with the site concerning Robert Douglas and General Axel Lillie, who are said to have built their residences so high up that they could signal to one another from the top floors. The palace’s imposing structure reflected the ambitions of the influential Douglas family and their standing in 17th-century Sweden.
A stone residence by the lake
The residence consisted of a four-storey stone main building, a tower facing the gardens, and two wings facing Lake Roxen. The building was constructed from local stone bonded with lime mortar. The interiors featured stately apartments, and one of the wings housed a chapel with an altar, organ, gallery and clock tower. Services were held there for local residents. The whole complex was surrounded by a vast park with terraces sloping down towards the lake.
A fire and over two centuries as a ruin
On 12 May 1789, a bolt of lightning struck the palace, causing a massive fire. The raging inferno destroyed the main building, the roofs and the furnishings. Following this tragedy, only the wing containing the chapel and the outbuildings were rebuilt, whilst the main part was left in ruins. In 1810, the former chapel became a parish church. Over the following decades, the walls gradually fell into disrepair, and the work carried out in the 20th century was limited to basic measures to safeguard the most vulnerable sections.
Conservation rather than reconstruction
In 2012, the estate’s owners launched a competition to adapt and showcase the ruins. The winning entry was submitted by Wikerstål Arkitekter, who, after joining forces with Tengbom, saw the project through to completion between 2014 and 2022. A new roof truss was installed, made from timber sourced from the estate’s own forests; the tops of the walls were clad in lead sheeting; the windows were fitted with laminated glass; and the entrances were fitted with oak doors. The collapsed central wall was replaced by a new system of beams supported by steel columns clad in timber.
Stjärnorp Palace today
New staircases and walkways made of timber, weather-resistant steel and brass handrails have also been added to the ruins. An elliptical spiral staircase in the tower and a self-supporting staircase in the great hall have also been constructed. The work carried out has halted the deterioration of the historic building and made it accessible to visitors, without literally reconstructing the lost 17th-century residence. The new elements are clearly distinguishable from the historic ones and, if necessary, can be removed without damaging the ancient walls.
design: Tengbom
location: Linköping, Sweden
photographs: Felix Gerlach
See also: History | Palace | Renovation | Travel|Sweden|Interesting facts
