Hjo Town Hall – A Piece of Late 1930s Functionalism
Hjo Town Hall was designed by architect Birger Jonson in a restrained functionalist style, accented by classical features. The building stands as a fine example of Swedish architecture from the late 1930s.
A Historic Opening Ceremony
The very first city council meeting in the new premises took place on 12 January 1938. Two days later, on Friday 14 January, the local newspaper Hjo Tidning – still one of Sweden’s smallest newspapers in publication – reported on the grand inauguration:
“It was a solemn scene in the new Town Hall on Wednesday afternoon. Before the hour of the ceremony, gentlemen in tuxedos, a few with gleaming medals on their chests, could be seen inspecting the premises. The academic quarter passed, and when County Governor Mannerfelt had arrived, the inauguration officially began with the Hjo Male Choir performing Stenhammar’s ‘Sverige’...”
Mural Paintings in the Entrance Hall
Just inside the main entrance – facing the town square – is a vestibule adorned with murals by artist Hugo Borgström. These wall paintings depict local trades and livelihoods: craftsmanship, agriculture, commerce, and maritime activity in Hjo.
South Wall
Two local residents have been clearly identified in the murals. On the south wall is Lorentz Bergman (1864–1952), a potter and tile stove maker, poet, and editor of Hjo Tidning. He often wrote under the pen name "Elbe".
North Wall
On the north wall, the man at the far right mending fishing nets has been identified as Hjalmar “Tuppen” Karlsson. He was married to Ella “Sjuars-Ella” Karlsson. The couple lived for a time at Sandtorget, and later in the former lodge “Guldkrokens Ros” on Skolgatan 13 – a building previously used as an auction house and, in later years, a second-hand shop.
Read More
You can read more about the history of Hjo Town Hall in Hjo Stadshus by Per-Göran Ylander. The book is available for loan at Hjo City Library or for purchase at Hjo Bookshop and the Hjo Tourist Information Centre.
Self-Guided Tour
Take a stroll and explore the historical architecture and craftsmanship of Hjo at your own pace.
Quick Facts
- Number of stops: 17
- What to do: At each stop/sign, scan the QR code
- Starting point: Any stop
- What you need: Mobile phone and QR code scanner
- Duration: Around 1 hour
- Walking distance: Approx. 1.5 km
- Season: All year round
- Price: FREE