Enjoy the beauty of Millesgården

Enjoy the beauty of Millesgården. Millesgården is an oasis 10 minutes away from downtown Stockholm on the island of Lidingö. This oasis of art combines an antique collection, a gallery & a vast sculpture garden that will bewitch you.

The newly married artist couple Carl and Olga Milles acquired a property in 1906 on the cliff of Herserud high above Lake Värtan on the island of Lidingö. Their intention was to build a home incorporating space for their art studios.

The house was designed by architect Carl M. Bengtsson and was built in 1908. During the following half-century, Millesgården was expanded and developed in collaboration with Carl’s half-brother, architect Evert Milles. Between 1911-13 the first addition was built, an open-air studio in the form of a loggia wing, intended to improve Carl’s work environment. The sculptor had contracted a serious case of silicosis from inhalation of the dust from his stone carving.

As Milles’s income increased from the many new sculpture commissions during the 1920s, adjoining properties were acquired along the south slopes. With the construction of the middle terrace and the Small Studio, both the area of the sculpture garden increased as well as provided further work space for making sculptures.

During the Milles couple’s absence from 1931-50, while Carl was a professor at Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan, USA, building activities at Millesgården came to a halt. But Evert Milles continued to draw up blueprints, in preparation for future building projects.

In 1936 Millesgården was constituted into a foundation, which was donated to the Swedish people. In anticipation of Carl and Olga’s return to Millesgården, 1950 saw the construction of the spacious lower terrace with monumental replicas of free-standing fountain sculptures from Sweden and the USA.

The lower terrace with the couple’s new home, Anne’s house designed by Evert Milles and furniture by the founder of furniture company Svenskt Tenn, Estrid Ericsson, was nearing completion at the time of Carl Milles’ death, on September 19, 1955.

The unique sculptures along with the cozy small garden restaurant & the art gallery form an ensemble that is worth discovering. Its beauty is not just confined to its own premises since the views of the city from its river edge will prove to be unforgettable. One of the prettiest places in Stockholm that is definitely worth discovering. More