Storkyrkobrinken, was constructed in 1876 by Ernst Jacobs-
son, who died in 1905. Artificial stone with half columns of
porphyry was used for material. During the eighties it was
the custom to allow the wall surfaces to remain unplastered,
exposing the brick, and to limit the plastering to window
casements or else to construct these of cut stone. The latter
was used in the University House in Uppsala, which was
erected in 1887 by Herman Holmgren. The magnificent
main entrance makes a very imposing impression with its
large dimensions and excellent materials.

During the last two decades of the nineteenth century,
there was great activity both in private and public construc-
tion in Sweden, not least in the rapidly growing capital. A
number of schools, banks, and barracks were erected, among
the latter the barracks of the Horse Guards on Sturevägen
near Stockholm by Erik Josephsson. He also built in the
French baroque style the stately new bank edifice of Skandi-
naviska Kreditaktiebolaget. This building forms a part of
the surroundings of Gustaf Adolfs torg--a square which
has unfortunately suffered in architectonic respects by the
demolition of the old Opera House. The interior produces
a severe, imposing effect, with its huge Doric columns which
occupy the centre of the background. Stress is laid upon
beauty of form and materials with sumptuous simplicity and
without regard to cost. The Workingmen's Institute in
Stockholm, which was erected in an admirable way by Carl
Möller, should also be mentioned.

A large number of tenement houses were built at this time
along our streets. The façades were over-loaded with de-
generate neo-Renaissance ornaments of mechanical make,
often of cement, which after a year or two precipitates a
salt that disfigures the walls by large white spots. Often the
architect was ignored by the contractor. The watch-word
became "speed and cheapness," and in most cases a building
was put up without even a thought of consulting an artis-
tically trained architect. Beautiful old houses were torn
down without the slightest reverence; straight thorough-
fares were made to cut each other at right angles; and a

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