Gustav Adolfs Torg 47
i Malmö

in Swedish

Welcome to the heart of the Riviera! That's how locals affectionately refer to the row of buildings lining the northern side of the square, whose bright, decorative facades have charmed generations. When Gustav Adolfs Torg 47 was designed by architect August Stoltz in 1910, the Art Nouveau (Jugend) style was all the rage. Both this building and its neighbor, the Odd Fellow property, brought a modern flair to the area—adopting softer color tones and cleaner lines, but with the rounded contours typical of the era.

Did you know there was once a gap in this picturesque row? Here, behind a simple wall facing the square, small factories and warehouses lingered in a secluded courtyard—a reminder that this was, for much of the 19th century, Malmö's edge.

Until 1805, this corner was part of the city's old fortifications. In fact, the name Söderport (South Gate) hints at its historic role as Malmö's southern gateway, complete with defensive walls and moats. Discover more stories in text and imagesꜜ

Tenants and Owners

• Shops and local businessesꜜ
• Vacant premises: not updated
• Owner: not updated

Echoes of History

This neighborhood, Söderport, takes its name from Malmö’s very first city gate.

Built in 1434, at the site where Södergatan now meets Gustav Adolfs Torg, the gate guarded the medieval town as it grew. Over time, its defenses were strengthened and extended, until the old structures were removed in the late 1800s.

The New Town

When the ramparts disappeared, Malmö gained two new squares: one at the eastern entrance (Drottningtorget), and the other here. For years, this spot was simply a grazing field—until the city expanded and the square gradually took shape. Today, Stora Nygatan runs straight through the district, reflecting the expansion that nearly doubled Malmö’s footprint.

Now, the square is a lively hub linking Central Station and Triangeln, filled with pedestrian streets, restaurants, and shops. During Malmö Festival, the area comes alive with flavors from around the world—making this a must-visit spot for food lovers.

Stölten’s Photo Shop

This building is famous for hosting Stölten’s, a beloved photography shop. The Danish firm Stölten & Simmonsen opened their branch here in 1884, and for decades, locals remember listening to records in cozy booths with headphones. Trying out new music here—and at other local spots like Anderssons Musik, Milow Radio, and Domus at Triangeln—was a favorite pastime for generations. Dive deeper into Stölten's historyꜜ

Café Culture

There’s always been a café here! When the building was new, J. Hintze’s Gentlemen’s and Ladies’ Café opened in the right-hand space, serving not only coffee, tea, and cakes but also wine. In the 1920s, Grand Café Bernét took over, before Stölten's made the entire ground floor its own.

Söderport Block
The original city gate, called Söderport, was built in 1434, right in the spot where Södergatan meets Gustav Adolfs Torg today. This gate protected the growing medieval city and was reinforced with defensive structures through the centuries. When Malmö became Swedish in the 1600s, new fortifications were added, but the gate itself was eventually relocated—before being dismantled completely in 1806 as the ramparts came down.

The block received its name in 1864, honoring the two city gates that once marked this area.

Property no. 9, right here in the block: built in 1910, designed by August Stolz.

Source: Isberg, Handbook and Guide to Isberg’s historical map of Malmö, 1875. City Planning Office Archives.

‘Ravelins’ and ‘caponiers’ describe the outer fortifications once found here. Examples can be seen surrounding Malmöhus Castle, and Malmö’s website features fascinating stories about these old defenses.

Siege by the Danes
After the Swedes captured Malmöhus Castle, they wasted no time in reinforcing it. In 1662, King Charles XI ordered four bastions to be erected around the fortress, tearing down older buildings to make way—including a Franciscan monastery in today’s Kungsparken.

By 1665, these upgrades, based on Dutch military engineering, were complete. The new bastions took Swedish names: Carolus Gustavus, Carolus, Banér, and Stenbocken. Their first test came soon—in 1675, war broke out, and the Danes besieged Malmö. The townsfolk stayed neutral, and the Swedish forces held out until the Danes retreated on July 5, 1677.

Discover More Stories

The Neighboring House

The building pt-30 door was decorated for the Crown Prince couple’s visit in 1908. Look to the right in the photo: even magnificent homes still had old-fashioned outdoor toilets, either in the yard or up in the attic!

One notable resident of this house was Moje Björkman, a legendary figure in Malmö’s restaurant and theater scene. He ran the Hippodrome, Restaurant Stadt Hamburg, and the city’s theater on this very square (today’s H&M). Björkman also managed summer venues in Kungsparken, Grand Hotel in Lund, Bjerreds Saltsjöbad, and Hotell Falsterbohus. Between the world wars, he focused on Falsterbohus and Hotel Alexandra on the Riviera.

The Story of Stölten’s

Stölten & Simmonsen, the Danish photography firm, began its story on Gustav Adolfs Torg 8 in 1884.

Christian Stölten, aged just 18 and the younger brother of the company founder, took charge and soon catered to famous photographers from not only Malmö and Skåne but major cities across Sweden. Christian wasn’t content to wait for customers—he travelled the country winning new business. Local amateur photography was booming and added to the company’s growing success.

Over time, Stölten took over the Danish parent firm, launched more branches in Malmö, supplied smaller stores across Sweden, and published elegant catalogues.

In 1913, Stölten moved to Gustav Adolfs Torg 47 and, five years later, bought the whole building. The operation expanded with workshops, exhibitions, and storage—plus the sale of German cameras under the Stölma brand. Catalogues grew into whole books, and by 1924, the pt-30 generation joined the business, adding gramophones and records to the shelves.

Locals fondly remember listening to records in booths at Stölten’s—or at Andersson’s Musik, Milow Radio, or Domus.

By 1935, Stölten joined forces with two renowned Stockholm firms, Nerlien and Forsners—with better prices and a joint catalogue. The shops kept their old names, though. In the mid-1960s, the hip newcomer Broddmans took over, boosting the firm's profile with radio ads. But when Broddmans went under in the early 1980s, a 97-year era ended, and music fell silent at Gustav Adolfs Torg.

Catalogues

Here you’ll find a selection of catalogues published by Stölten’s—some are rare collector’s items sold for high prices today.

During the “78-rpm” record era, covers were standardized, and shops printed their own sleeves. Singles, EPs (with two tracks per side), and LPs (frequently six tracks per side) arrived in the 1960s, changing the music scene.

This historic property is also home to Peru's Consulate and features a passage to the Noble House Hotel.

References

• About BiBB, a media company and an encyclopedia 4.0
• Text: Christian Kindblad | Text/Photo: Johan Schlasberg

Shops and other companies

• Not currently updated.

Published: 2006.06 Updated: 2025.09.08

Kategorier 20 Fastigheter 47

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