Obviously you have decided to rate “real” culture on a scale which states the older the better. Which I guess defines that all fine art is made before the introduction of Modernism and that contemporary art doesn’t have the same importance, which I find quite ridiculous.”/QUOTE

Art and History are two separate issues.

History by default is defined by age – therefore Historical Architecture “by definition” is Historical and Older = more “Historical”.

New architecture cannot be regarded as historical in any way shape or form, New = New.

There is no such thing as modern art, there is no such thing as bad art – either something “is art” or it is “not art”.

Likewise.. there is no such thing as good culture or bad culture, either something is cultural or it is not.

Industrialism is Not Cultural, it is “Industrial” by default.

Since there is very little to point at in Sweden that is not “industrial”, There is sadly very little “culture” in Sweden today.
Culture must be created in Sweden for it to exist.

The criteria for art is very simple and very strict – “all art” is a sincere and natural self expression created for the sake of self expression alone.

Genre’s and Movements of any age (modernist or classical) are artificial and contrived and neither a sincere nor natural self expression,
thererfore the conscious act of producing anything “modernist” is artificial and contrived and automatically anti-art,
modernism is not art, it is a “brand” – like Apple or Coca-cola. and should be regarded as “commercial”, intended for one or more of the following :
corporate branding, product marketing, political propaganda, self promotion, entertainment, social status, economic profit.
Genre’s (Styles) are a marketing tool for Corporations and Distributers” to promote “product” more efficiently.
Anything that is intentionally produced according to a genre, style or movement or to impress, amuse, shock, provoke or entertain others is automaticaly anti-art.
Art is created by an artist for no other reason than self expression.

But I must say I’m a bit surprised about your perspective on what should be defined as culture. Today it’s generally accepted, not just in Sweden, that the term “culture” involves many different expressions, not necessarily to be compared to each other. Each area has it’s own values. Music, art, architecture, literature, photography with all their sub-groups and even popular culture or city structure and industry have their values. Where some parts have a quality worth saving. And it’s part of the cultural heritage no matter if it’s 500 years old or if it’s contemporary.

Obviously you have decided to rate “real” culture on a scale which states the older the better. Which I guess defines that all fine art is made before the introduction of Modernism and that contemporary art doesn’t have the same importance, which I find quite ridiculous.

I wouldn’t say remains from a medieval building by default is more important than one drawn by Adolf Loos, Mies van der Rohe or Richard Rogers (or for that sake buildings from Nordic architects like Saarinen or Asplund).

Or that a piece of art by Turner is higher appreciated or more valuable to man than one from Paul Klee, Mark Rothko or Anselm Kiefer.

This house is not the most important building of it’s time, sure. But it’s an early work of Lallerstedt who later moved into Modernism which makes it interesting. It’s typical of it’s time but it heralded the architect’s path towards Modernism.

That’s the main reason why I react on the destruction. The other part I’m writing about is from a marketing and business perspective but that’s another story.

Therefore the interior has been demolished to save the outer structure of the house.
It is not in the “process” of being demolished, the demolition is 100% “complete”.
therefore the old interior is Gone Forever.

Stabäck 2:21 (former site of Ängelsberg Railway Station) is now Private Property,
What happens now with the property is completely up to the owners.
The property is No Longer Public Domain.

The people of Ängelsberg can either come to terms with this reality,
or continue living in a fantasy where the past remains unchanged forever.

The Ängelsberg Kulturhus Projekt has nothing what-so-ever to do with the residents of Ängelsberg,
and the opinions of locals have no influence on the project.

The cultural centre is promoted primarily in Germany and the rest of central europe,
and not dependent, targeted nor marketed towards “Swedes”, nor promoted in “Sweden”,
the Kulturhus is intended to be an international cultural centre, designed to attract visitors from around the world.
most notably visitors from Germany and central europe, where the words: culture, fine art and history have real meaning,
in 2000 year old cities founded by the romans, whilst Swedes rant about “historical” ticket windows made in the1950s.

The fact that Swedes regard industrial installations such as Railway stations, OIl refineries and Iron mills as “cultural sites”
sums up the Swedish mindset completely. The former station was built in 1900, within living memory, and does not deserve
the distinction of “historical site”, it was simply an english tudor style house built some decades ago.

All those concerned can be 100% assured that the owners of the property are not interested
in the opinions or manic obsessions of railway fetischists.
All such persons are invited to Go Get a Life.

Stop crying over industrial installations – it’s truly pathetic.

The villagers of Ängelsberg regard industrial installations such as railway stations, oil refineries and iron mills as “cultural sites”, this rather sums up the Swedish mindset in a nutshell. Sweden has no historical foundation in high culture or fine arts, these are alien concepts in a working class culture, these noble cultural traditions are still important in central Europe, which has a long noble cultural heritage of great classical works in music and other art forms, which is why one can find a “Kulturhaus”, Symphonic Concert Hall and Fine Art Gallery in so many cities in Germany.
If such places would depend on Swedish tourism there would be spiderwebs over the doorways. In short – We are not so interested in the opinions of locals nor analysis of the local market. We could not be less interested.

mit Freundlichen Grüßen

~ Ängelsberg Konsortium

(this reply resubmitted to correct typographical errors)

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