A Grand, Historic Swedish Apartment with Preserved Period Features

Tucked quietly beside the flowing Gavleån River, steps from Gammelbron, this remarkable residence feels less like an apartment and more like a chapter from Gävle’s living history.

Known over the centuries as both Borgmästargården and Engwallska huset, the building has been home to the city’s mayor and, later, to the Engwall family, owners of Gevalia, who left an indelible mark on its character in the 1920s.

The house’s oldest sections date back to around 1700. In the 19th century, it grew upward and outward, and in the early 20th century, it was transformed under the Engwall family into the classicist landmark it remains today. After three generations, the family sold the property around 1990, and the building was divided into apartments.

The atmosphere is unmistakably classicist. Carefully preserved stucco work, refined joinery, parquet floors, barred glass, and softly arched doorways recur throughout, lending the home a calm symmetry and timeless elegance. The current owners have embraced preservation over reinvention, allowing the spirit of the 1920s to breathe freely in every room.

The lower floors consist of a living room, a dining room, a kitchen, the master bedroom, and a bathroom. The dining room is centrally located and, at 50 square meters, is also a grand space.

The room features a coffered ceiling, bay window, and double doors to the hall and living room. 

The walls in the dining room are decorated with the Gamla Grand wallpaper from Duro’s Gammalsvenska (Old Swedish) collection.

A cozy kitchen space is situated next to the dining room. It features a fireplace in the corner, adding a warm ambiance, and there is room for a smaller dining area.

The classic kitchen cabinets are made of Canadian oak and feature integrated appliances and a charming shelf for spices, mugs, and other smaller kitchen items.

The building’s original basement vault is transformed into a wine cellar.

The grand 72-square-meter living room occupies the entire northern side of the building and features windows in three directions, offering views along the water towards both the city and the City Garden. 

The ceiling is adorned with two gigantic chandeliers in the same shade as the shelves, which were purchased from Italy by the Engwall family, the house’s previous owners

The French balcony brings in light and air, offering small moments of connection to the river and garden beyond.

The fireplace in the living room bears a cast-iron plate depicting King Charles XII’s horse, Brandklipparen, a quiet yet powerful reminder of Sweden’s layered past.

Built-in bookshelves flank the historic fireplace.

The entrance to the home leads into a circular hall with round-arched openings and tiled floors from Skromberga in Skåne.

The lower floor also houses the apartment’s largest bedroom, with a charming niche for the bed, a large window, and antique furniture.

The bedroom also has a marble-clad en-suite bathroom with a freestanding bath, a separate shower, built-in furniture, and an oval window with white shutters.

Upstairs is another cozy bedroom with red-painted walls and a bathroom/utility space. The rest of the attic floor is currently unused but features beautiful wooden beams, so they could be transformed into cozy, historic spaces.

The attic space has a beautiful view of the river.

The entrance hall features a hat shelf and a circular window toward the central staircase.

styling by Undin and photography by Jahnson for Historiska Hem.