Stockholm Beauty Council
Encyclopedia
The Stockholm Beauty Council , colloquially the Beauty Council (Skönhetsrådet), and officially Council for the Protection of the Beauty of Stockholm (Rådet till skydd för Stockholms skönhet) is an advisory council of the Stockholm Municipality
which inspects city plans and requests for construction permits remitted by various municipal departments. The council is however permitted to initiate cases within its field, which makes it a relatively independent municipal organ.
(Vetenskapsakademien) and the Society for Nature Conservation (Naturskyddsföreningen); two are artists appointed by the Academy of Fine Arts
(Konstakademien); and, finally, two are cultural historians appointed by the Academy of Letters, History and Antiquities
(Vitterhetsakademien) and Samfundet S:t Erik
(a society devoted to the history of Stockholm). Four members are representing the major political parties. The council elects its own chairman, vice chairman, and secretary. It holds sessions once per month.
, the council chairman is art historian and curator Hans Henrik Brummer, while the office is headed by architecture historian Martin Rörby.
, have been ignored. Additionally, a recent alternation of its members, some of its earlier members had been around since WW2, is adding new hope the council will be less conservative in the future.
Stockholm Municipality
Stockholm Municipality or the City of Stockholm is a municipality in Stockholm County in east central Sweden. It is the largest of the 290 municipalities of the country in terms of population, but one of the smaller in terms of area, making it the most densely populated...
which inspects city plans and requests for construction permits remitted by various municipal departments. The council is however permitted to initiate cases within its field, which makes it a relatively independent municipal organ.
Organisation
The council has thirteen members of which twelve, representing the authorities, organisations, and groups which nominated them, are appointed by the municipal council. The thirteenth member, by tradition a Stockholm connoisseur, is appointed by the other twelve members. Two of the members are architects representing the Swedish Association of Architects (Sveriges arkitekter) and the National Property Board (Statens fastighetsverk); two are experts on nature conservation representing the Academy of SciencesRoyal Swedish Academy of Sciences
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences or Kungliga Vetenskapsakademien is one of the Royal Academies of Sweden. The Academy is an independent, non-governmental scientific organization which acts to promote the sciences, primarily the natural sciences and mathematics.The Academy was founded on 2...
(Vetenskapsakademien) and the Society for Nature Conservation (Naturskyddsföreningen); two are artists appointed by the Academy of Fine Arts
Royal Swedish Academy of Arts
The Royal Swedish Academy of Arts or Kungl. Akademien för de fria konsterna, founded in 1773 by King Gustav III, is one of the Royal Academies in Sweden...
(Konstakademien); and, finally, two are cultural historians appointed by the Academy of Letters, History and Antiquities
Royal Swedish Academy of Letters, History and Antiquities
The Royal Swedish Academy of Letters, History and Antiquities also called simply the Royal Academy of Letters, abbreviated KVHAA is the Swedish royal academy for the Humanities.Its many publications include the archaeological and art historical journal Fornvännen, published since 1906.The Academy...
(Vitterhetsakademien) and Samfundet S:t Erik
Samfundet S:t Erik
Samfundet S:t Erik is a Swedish non-profit organisation with the stated mission to promote knowledge of the history of Stockholm and support the preservation and development of the city's culture and aesthetics. Named after St...
(a society devoted to the history of Stockholm). Four members are representing the major political parties. The council elects its own chairman, vice chairman, and secretary. It holds sessions once per month.
, the council chairman is art historian and curator Hans Henrik Brummer, while the office is headed by architecture historian Martin Rörby.
Criticism
The council has been frequently criticized for being an extremely conservative institution composed of thirteen taste polices and the name of the council was even laughed at upon its creation. Much debated was its objection to a renewal of the Skärholmen suburb where the grey concrete was proposed to be repainted in gaudy colours and, equally debated, was a proposal to discontinue the council in 2005. It is, nevertheless, not a decision-taking institution and historically its objections to controversial proposals, such as the much criticized Redevelopment of NorrmalmRedevelopment of Norrmalm
The redevelopment of Norrmalm was a major revision of the city plan for lower Norrmalm in Stockholm, Sweden, which was realised during the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. The renewal resulted in the old Klara quarters being replaced for the modern city of Stockholm, according to rigorist CBD ideas, while...
, have been ignored. Additionally, a recent alternation of its members, some of its earlier members had been around since WW2, is adding new hope the council will be less conservative in the future.