Drill Hall

The Drill Hall, the Exercishuset

The Stockholm audio-guided tour points out, along the Skeppsholmen shore, the Drill Hall, or Exercishuset, a magnificent yellow building. Built between 1851 and 1853 by the architect Fredrik Blom, it displays the emblematic colour of Stockholm.

From cannon drill to architecture

This emblematic yellow colour goes back to the 18th century, when Swedish architects drew inspiration from the yellow-brick palaces admired during their travels in southern Europe. Originally, the Drill Hall served as a training hall for the Swedish navy: sailors trained there in the handling of cannons and practised gymnastics. In 1958, the building became the first home of the famous Moderna Museet, a pioneer of contemporary art.

What there is to see

Today, the Exercishuset houses ArkDes, the Swedish Centre for Architecture and Design, which holds a collection of four million objects tracing the history of architecture and design in Sweden. The yellow building, through its military and then cultural history, illustrates the transformation of the island of Skeppsholmen, a former naval centre turned artistic hub of Stockholm.

Practical information

The Drill Hall is on the island of Skeppsholmen, in the centre of Stockholm. The facade can be seen freely from the shore; access to ArkDes, the Centre for Architecture and Design located in part of the building, is according to its own hours and prices, variable by season. It is best to check the information in advance.

What is found today in the Drill Hall ?

ArkDes, the Swedish Centre for Architecture and Design, and its collection of four million objects.

What was the Drill Hall originally used for ?

It was a training hall of the Swedish navy, where sailors trained in the handling of cannons and gymnastics.