Mariatorget or Maria Square in English is located in Södermalm in downtown Stockholm or what is also referred to as Stockholm's central business district (CBD). It is a historic urban space that is well preserved, and probably one of the best examples of great historic urban spaces in Sweden. It was built in the 1760s, and one of the oldest in Stockholm.
Although commonly referred to as a square, Mariatorget is in strict technical terms an open space (city park) due to it's mainly soft space component. It is fully enclosed by urban solids along Hornsgatan and Sankt Paulisgatan on its northern and southern sides respectively; as well as along two one way streets both called Mariatorget on its eastern and western sides. The bounding urban solids are mostly historic buildings that include a hotel and some cafés.
The square's main spatial feature is a centrally located sculptural circular fountain that contains the statue of the Viking God Thor and some water spitting alligator like sculptures. The fountain is surrounded by circular pedestrian space from which pedestrian walkways radiate, subdividing the square into four symmetrical parts or quadrants of soft spaces. There are some more sculptures that are located in other parts of the square.
Other spatial features of the square include compacted earth floor with sand finish in walkways; traditional wooden benches on both sides of radiating walkways and along the periphery of the pedestrian space around the fountain; as well as grass lawns, some advertising boards, children play equipment, and rubbish bins. Also situated along both sides of the walkways are lamps on traditional lamp posts.
Furthermore, the square consists of two lines of large landscaping trees, each on it's western and eastern sides, that separate it's main part from two broad earth and sand walkways one on each side. Between the walkways and bounding urban solids, are one way streets both called Mariatorget and mentioned earlier, with floors paved with traditional natural paving stones.
The square is very vibrant during the summer months, with sitting on benches and grass lawns, children playing especially around the fountain, passing through, courting, eating, reading, standing, talking, etc.
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All photos were taken in 2018 by JK Freelance Images unless otherwise indicated. Video by JK Freelance Productions. Photo descriptions as well as video description, i.e. article accompanying the video, by Jacob Kimaryo Consultancy.
More data about the square and other urban spaces in Stockholm Region can be obtained through e-mailing: kimaryoconsult@gmail.com
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