NATIONALROMANTIKENS TEGELMURVERK -SVENSKA IDEAL OCH GÖTEBORGSK PRAKTIK

Abstract

This thesis aims to contribute to the understanding of the aesthetic expressions of National Romanticism by examining the relationship between brickwork design and the architectural ideals communicated during the era. Focusing on the city of Gothenburg, the study combines architectural analysis with discourse analysis to shed light on how ideals were both expressed in theory and materialised in practice. Through an inventory of 14 public buildings in Gothenburg from the National Romantic period, the study analyses brickwork in terms of brick type, bond type, mortar joint type, colour, and dimensions. These physical characteristics are then compared with the aesthetic ideals communicated in the architectural journal Arkitektur during the years 1903-1923. A discourse analysis of the journal identifies three dominant discourses: a preference for a vibrant expression in practice, characterised by variation, material richness, and irregularity; an emphasis on functional appropriateness, where the inherent qualities of brick are celebrated and utilised; and a nationalistic discourse, which encourages the use of Swedish historical models and local traditions as sources of inspiration. The findings demonstrate a strong alignment between these articulated ideals and the actual execution of Gothenburg’s brickwork, particularly in the widespread use of red hand-made bricks. However, the study also reveals subtle variations and deviations from the ideals, indicating that while the influence of National Romantic discourse was significant, it was carried out in varied ways. This variation gives insight into how theory and practice interacted in architecture. By bridging the gap between the architectural discussion and the material expression, this thesis contributes with new knowledge to the field and offers a more nuanced view to the prevailing narrative about the aesthetic expression of Swedish National Romanticism.