Heidi When I’m in Stockholm during December or early January, one Christmas tradition I never miss is the brilliant Pepparkakshus (gingerbread house) exhibition at ArkDes (the Swedish Centre for Architecture and Design). It’s housed right next to the Moderna Museet on Skeppsholmen. It’s genuinely astonishing what ingenious structures people can create using gingerbread as a base, adorned with all sorts of sweets and confections.
The annual gingerbread competition
The heart of the ArkDes Pepparkakshus is an exciting competition. It features various categories, ranging from children to professional bakers, ensuring a diverse and high standard of entry. Each year, ArkDes receives between 100 and 200 amazing gingerbread houses!
Past Pepparkakshus Themes and Highlights
Over the years, the exhibition has explored fascinating themes:
Exhibition Pepparkakshus 2016
The 2016 competition was based on the theme “Hemligheter” or “Secrets“.
Exhibition Pepparkakshus 2019
In 2019, the theme was “Hot.” This saw many entries alluding to global warming, with a fantastic piece featuring a representation of Greta Thunberg as a standout exhibit. The devastating Notre-Dame fire in Paris was also given a stunning gingerbread version. Personally, I was utterly charmed by a gingerbread fire engine, especially knowing the designer was younger than 12! I also adored the detailed “kakelugn” (a traditional Swedish tiled stove)—if I ever buy a house in Sweden, I simply must have one!
Digital exhibition 2020
2020 marked the 30th anniversary of the Pepparkakshus exhibition. Sadly, like many things that year, a big in-person party wasn’t possible. Instead, the exhibition went digital, allowing people to admire the gingerbread houses in 3D on the ArkDes website. The highly relevant theme that year was “Avstånd” or “Distance.”
Pepparkakshus in ArkDes 2021
The gingerbread houses made a triumphant return in 2021. The heartwarming theme for the year was “Tilsammans” (Swedish for “together“).
Pepparkakshus exhibition practical information
Ready to see these edible architectural wonders for yourself?
Practical Information:
- Cost: The gingerbread house exhibition is usually free of charge.
- Dates: It typically runs from the start of Advent right up until the end of the Christmas holidays.
- Opening Times: ArkDes is closed on Mondays.
How to Get to ArkDes on Skeppsholmen:
ArkDes is conveniently located on the island of Skeppsholmen.
- You can take the bus—there’s a stop very near the Moderna Museet.
- I usually choose to walk. The bridges leading to Skeppsholmen offer genuinely beautiful views of Gamla Stan (the Old Town) on one side and Östermalm/Djurgården on the other.
- It’s a pleasant 5-minute walk from the Kungsträdgården area.
Address: Exercisplan 4, Skeppsholmen, Stockholm
Have you ever visited the Pepparkakshus exhibition? Which of the past themes sounds most interesting to you?
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