Kronhuset

Kronhuset ('the Crown House' in English), formerly known as Giötheborgz Tyghuhs ('Gothenburg's Arsenal'), is a redbrick building in Västra Nordstaden in Gothenburg. It was constructed during the years 1643–1654 in a Dutch style, and is Gothenburg's joint-oldest secular building along with the Torstenson Palace (constructed 1648–1650). The royal architect Simon de la Vallée is believed to have designed the building. The Kronhus was originally used as an arsenal for the city garrison and as a granary to store food reserves so that the city could survive a siege. On December 9, 1927, the ownership of Kronhuset passed from the Swedish state to Gothenburg Municipality. It has been a byggnadsminne, a listed building, since 24 October 1968.

==History== After the foundation of Gothenburg in 1621, the cannons and other equipment required for the defence of the city were initially kept in storehouses built into the bastions of the municipal fortifications, but it soon became clear that these were not of sufficient capacity. The decision to build an additional military storehouse was made in February 1640, and in May 1642 the order was issued to begin construction as soon as the ordered brick from Holland had arrived. The construction work was led by the garrison commander Olof Hansson Swart, later knighted Örnehufvud, who also happened to be the son of the mayor of Lödöse.