Villa Lusthusporten

Djurgården was originally an enclosed royal hunting ground accessed through various gates. During the 17th century, there was a summer house (Lusthus) here, giving the nearby gate its name (Lusthusporten). In the 19th century, Djurgården became a popular recreational area for Stockholmers. At that time the Lusthusporten inn, also known as Blå Porten, stood on this site, but burned down in 1869., In 1873 a merchant named Brink leased the land and had a home built. It was designed by Axel and Hjalmar Kumlien in a pure Italianate style and forms the core of the existing building., During the General Art and Industrial Exposition of Stockholm in 1897, the villa was used as a press office and guardhouse. The villa was then sold to the cork merchant Consul Hjalmar Wicander, who commissioned architect Carl Moller to refurbish the house in a medieval romantic style with rich art nouveau decor. Mailer also designed the stables and gardener's cottage., The plot was reduced to make way for a public waterfront path and the villa was enclosed by iron fencing., Villa Lusthusporten was donated to the Nordiska Museet Foundation in 1940 and houses the Institute for Folk Life Research. , ,