The U.S. Ambassador’s Residence in Stockholm has been a part of the life of the U.S. diplomatic mission in Sweden for almost 90 years. Constructed in 1930-32 for the Swedish publisher and industrialist Erik Åkerlund by the Swedish architect Knut Perno, this magnificent villa in the Diplomatic Quarter is inspired by Italian architecture and is a fine example of Nordic Classicism – also known as Swedish Grace.
U.S. Minister Laurence Steinhardt rented Villa Åkerlund from the family beginning in September 1933 as his residence. In February 1940 U.S. Minister Frederick Sterling rented it as a residence and for offices.
During World War II, the villa served as the Stockholm outpost of the U.S. Office of War Information. In December 1942, the U.S. government purchased the house. Since 1947, it has been the residence of the U.S. Ambassador to Sweden.
In July 2020, Villa Åkerlund was added to the Secretary of State’s Register of Culturally Significant Property. Every property included on the Register must demonstrate that it represents a significant part of the history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, or culture of the area, and that a person(s) or event(s) associated with the property have been significant to the course of U.S. diplomacy. Only a few dozen U.S. diplomatic properties worldwide have been so designated. The designation showcases the U.S. government’s commitment to protecting and preserving the Residence as an important example of U.S. diplomatic and Swedish cultural history.
To learn more about the history of the residence, and see some of the interiors, please see the Embassy’s YouTube channel.