The Eriksberg gantry crane. September 2010.
The 1969 gantry crane against the backdrop of a 2010 built high-rise.
In 1969 the shipbuilding industry in Gothenburg, Sweden was high octane. The diligent sounds from the wharves echoed across the water, lingering into the very fabric of the city.
As a result of booming business Eriksberg’s shipyard ordered a gantry crane from Germany 80 metres high and weighing 1750 tonnes. The crane became a symbol of success as well as a landmark. Obviously – the sheer size of it hardly went unnoticeable.
Only a few years later things began to go downhill. Rather drastically. The wharf closed in 1979, but business had been waning long before then resulting in the necessity to lay off thousands of employees.
The gravity of shipbuilding manufacturing was shifting in favour of other global arenas, which affected not only Gothenburg but many other European shipyards.
In the doldrums following the overall economic void of the late 1970s, Eriksberg fell into decline as politicians and other stakeholders where juggling possible ways forward. That is, what do to with the massive derelict areas occupied by the former shipbuilding industry.
In Eriksberg’s case it was eventually decided that an appropriate solution would be to gentrify the area by accommodation. Mainly.
Whilst exact details of the plans were being developed, the area around the gantry crane became an events venue with various happenings such as concerts taking place. The crane for a while became a bungy jumping facility.
In the last couple of years housing has been moving in big scale. And the crane is now listed. Which it should be. It’s just such a magnificant historical symbol but at the same time cool enough to stand the test of time.
I like. Very much.
