Gustavianum

Story

Gustavianum is the oldest standing building of Uppsala University. It was built between 1622 and 1625, and used as the main building of the university between 1778 and 1887. Since 1997 it is used as the university museum of Uppsala University.HistoryDuring the 16th century Uppsala University was in decline and by the latter part of the century tutoring had stopped almost entirely. However, during Uppsala Synod in 1593 there was an official decision to re-open the university. Due to the increasing number of students the old medieval university building, Academia Carolina, was no longer able to house the entire university, wherefore a second university structure became necessary.Gustavianum was built between 1622 and 1625. The name Gustavianum comes from Gustavus Adolphus who in the 1620s donated money for its construction. The building was designed by the Dutch architect Caspar van Panten and contained lecture halls, printing halls, and housing for gifted students without means. In 1662 the professor of medicine and polymath Olaus Rudbeck significantly expands the building by adding another floor as well as constructing the theatrum anatomicum within a large cupola on its roof. The anatomical theatre is today the second oldest remaining anatomical theatre in the world.The anatomical theatre was used until the 1750s when new more modern anatomical facilities were inaugurated in the neighboring building Konsistoriehuset. The cupola was instead used as a university library until the construction of the current library Carolina Rediviva in 1841. The cupola was later used as a zoological museum. In 1955 the anatomical theatre was restored according to Olaus Rudbecks original design.