The nearly century-old Liljeholmsbadet floating bathhouse has been towed away from Stockholm's Hornstulls strand. This historic structure had occupied the waterfront location since the 1930s. Local authorities closed the facility in 2016 over safety concerns.
Stockholm city officials determined renovating the existing bathhouse would be too expensive. They initially planned to demolish the structure entirely. But preservation groups and local residents protested the decision.
After legal challenges and public pressure, the city changed course. Stockholm signed a purchase agreement with property firm AMF Fastigheter. The transfer of ownership has now been completed.
AMF Fastigheten plans to transform the bathhouse into a recreation and spa facility. The renovated structure will eventually be located in Marievik, another Stockholm waterfront area. Company representatives confirmed these plans in a recent statement.
Multiple underwater inspections revealed the hull had deteriorated beyond repair. Rather than sending the structure to a scrapyard as originally intended, the new owners made an unexpected decision. They will donate the entire bathhouse to a private individual in Grisslehamn, a coastal town north of Stockholm.
This resolution represents a classic Stockholm compromise—saving historic architecture while finding practical new uses for aging structures. The outcome satisfies preservationists while acknowledging the economic realities of maintaining century-old waterfront buildings.