The Stone Award of 2020

The Stone Award 2020 went to the Obelisk at Slottsbacken in Stockholm. An “impossible mission” that pushed the boundaries of what the Swedish stone industry can achieve when everyone collaborates – from the client all the way to the quarry. The new Obelisk on Slottsbacken was awarded the Stone Award 2020.

It is monumental in both expression and presence. At the same time, every single detail is crucial for the whole to be realized. The new Obelisk at Slottsbacken has been a masterclass in stone for everyone involved, emphasizes Kai Marklin, chairman of the Swedish Stone Industries Federation ”Sveriges Stenindustriförbund” and chairman of the jury of the Stone Award. – Some might object that this year’s Stone Award is being given to a client rather than an architect, but as responsible of our shared cultural heritage, the Swedish National Property Board (”Statens fastighetsverk”) has repeatedly demonstrated that it upholds the award’s core values: aesthetic quality, sustainability, and innovation. Moreover, with the Obelisk, they are pushing boundaries in a way that makes everyone a winner, including Sweden’s architectural community, he says.

It took a total of eight weeks and four attempts just to extract the block of Tossene Grey Bohus granite that forms the foundation of the heavy Obelisk. – The greatest challenge was finding locations in the quarry that combined the right size with a shade that would look natural once all the pieces were assembled, says site manager Lennart Martinsson of Hallinden Granit.

Master stonemason Ted Zaar and his team then worked on shaping the pieces, which were assembled on site. – Everything has to be perfect in a project like this. Even the smallest deviation can have very serious consequences, he explains.

The installation of the Obelisk has also required surgical precision. Each piece is a unique, massive puzzle piece whose entire weight must be evenly distributed when set in place. – The pedestal weighs 43 tons; if one corner were to bear the weight of the others, it would break, says Mikael Medin, CEO of Närkesten, which carried out the installation.

Hans Bergsten of Närkesten has been the lead installer of the Obelisk. In the future, it will not only serve as a “monument” to his professional career but also hold a personal significance: a gold ring placed beneath the top stone. – It belonged to my father, Lars. He was very interested in the Obelisk and wanted me to drive him past the site when it was finished. But we never got the chance; he passed away this spring from the effects of COVID. Placing the ring there was my way of honoring him, he says.

– It has been a very exciting and interesting project, now successfully completed after several years. It feels both rewarding and honorable that our work is being recognized with such a prestigious award. A huge thank you to everyone involved who made this possible, says Magnus Roos, project manager at the Swedish National Property Board (”Statens fastighetsverk”).

The jury’s motivation reads: “The new Obelisk has expanded our boundaries, both mentally and physically. It has shown that no challenge is impossible and that everything can be accomplished in stone. Moreover, it reminds us of our human capacity when we work together – a message that has never felt more important than in a year like this.”