Conference business is growing

Vår Gård's main building is inaugurated in 1959

When Harald Elldin retired in 1959, he was involved in inaugurating the new school buildings in connection with the Cooperative Association's 60th anniversary. The construction plans included four interconnected buildings with artistic elements that today constitute Vår Gård's main building with conference rooms, a dining room, reception and hotel building.

Buildings take shape through architectural care

Vår Gård 's main building was planned in the 1940s by architect Dag Ribbing, who created four buildings including a dining room, an assembly hall and teaching rooms. In the center was a reception and lobby with an entrance. The different buildings were linked with passages to create dry connections between lessons and meals. Ribbing also integrated the new complex with the old villa, Skärtofta, with a corridor that was linked with the other buildings. In order for Skärtofta and the new buildings to have a uniform impression, specially made brick was used to create harmony. A result of careful architectural care. A few years later, a hotel building was also added in front of the entrance in separate annexes. Today, the buildings are seen as a main building where Vår Gård conducts most of its conference activities with several meeting rooms of various sizes, a dining room, reception and Vincafé.

Picture below: Lesson in the Albin room in the 1960s

Artistic elements

During his time as principal, Harald Elldin had been very involved in several cultural areas such as theater, art and music, which he also brought into teaching. When the building plans were initiated, a full 4% of the costs were allocated to artistic decoration. KF also received several gifts in the form of paintings and works of art at the inauguration.
Well-known artists, including Axel Wallenberg and Christer Sjögren, decorate the premises with motifs that symbolize different aspects of human life and animal life. In the auditorium that is now called Isaac, Axel created twelve console endings carved in limestone that show people's daily life.
Also interesting is Christer Sjögren's wrought iron staircase railing that runs from the entrance up to the second floor. The staircase railing symbolizes nature and animal life at different levels to reinforce the purpose of the stairs "ascent". At the bottom, motifs from the sea are visible, on the second flight of stairs we encounter the beach followed by the land and at the top, the air with various birds.
Designer Stig Lindberg contributed ceramic wall decorations that symbolize trade and transport. Along the corridor towards the dining room you can see his work "Trade through the ages".

Even today, art is a very current and vibrant part of Vår Gård with appreciated guided art tour and new additions to preserve the cultural heritage.

Picture below: Trade through the ages by Stig Lindberg