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    Bio Skandia (Stockholm, Sweden)

    Inaugurated in 1923 on Drottninggatan in central Stockholm, the Skandia Theatre blends neoclassical elegance with Nordic clarity and wit and is one of Sweden’s most iconic cultural landmarks.

    Bio Skandia (picture by Lasse Olsson)

    Designed by Gunnar Asplund, among Scandinavia’s
    most celebrated architects, also known for the Stockholm Public
    Library and the UNESCO World Heritage site Woodland Cemetery, the theatre stands as a masterpiece of the Swedish Grace era.

    Asplund created a theatre unlike any other. He invited eight young artists to contribute decorative works, from frescoes and
    sculptures to elaborate embroideries, all of which remain
    beautifully preserved. The deep-blue vaulted ceiling, dotted with glowing stars that slowly dim before a screening, evokes the atmosphere of a Sicilian night sky. Playful details, such as the serpent winding its way up the balcony rail, reveal Asplund’s
    imaginative touch.

    From its opening, the Skandia Theatre was a premiere stage for
    Swedish and international cinema, welcoming audiences during
    the golden age of silent film as Greta Garbo rose to stardom. In
    1926, a magnificent Wurlitzer organ was installed, enhancing the
    silent film experience with live musical accompaniment, a unique feature still remembered today.

    Bio Skandia in Stockholm (picture by Lasse Olsson)