Sluss is the Swedish word for passage and
Slussen is a place in Stockholm where the city
gathers: a traffic hub connecting north and
south, and a gateway between inland waters
and the open sea.
Slussen is also a hideout: the exposed access
point of a subway ventilation shaft repurposed
into a small clandestine shack. Inside, a hatch
in the floor opens onto a tunnel network that
carries you down and around. Slussen marks the
threshold between above and below.
Stockholm Vatten (Stockholm Water) is the
municipal company responsible for the city’s
sewage and drainage. Pipes and caverns form
its circulatory system. A collapsible boat allows
you to enter and navigate these hidden water-
ways beneath the city.
Taking Place—Owning Space. In the rotunda
of Stockholm Library and its surrounding wings,
the shelves hold around 800,000 books. Nine of
them are hollow. Each contains a key and a map
leading to its corresponding lock: an informal
loaning system granting access to landscapes
beyond commercial life—free of charge, waiting
for whoever happens upon it.
Including an essay by Peter Cornell.
550 copies
