In Jönköping, a city shaped by its rich history and charm, lighting has played an important role over the years. For many decades, gas lamps were the dominant lighting source in Jönköping. These elegant lamps created a romantic atmosphere and were an integral part of the city’s character.

However, the challenges with gas lamps were many. The light they emitted was poor, and the handling of lighting, extinguishing, and general maintenance was inadequate in some areas. As electricity became more widespread, the gas lamps gradually disappeared, replaced one by one.

In the early 1990s, a major change was made, updating areas such as Hovrättstorget and Rådhusparken, including replacing the lighting.

In collaboration with the City of Jönköping, Westal embarked on an ambitious project to recreate the old 19th-century gas lamps as fixtures using modern technology. The project involved careful evaluations and planning to ensure that the city’s unique character and historical atmosphere were preserved.

The goal was for the new lamps to be designed to blend seamlessly with Jönköping’s historical architecture. The result was the Jönköping lantern, which, with its cast-iron pole and lantern house, is a replica of the lamps that were installed in the city in 1862. This majestic series features stylish details in oxidized handcrafted copper, as well as a spire in cast decorative aluminum. Clear window glass ensures maximum light output, and the beautifully decorated lantern is supported by a detailed cast-iron pole with classic step rungs. The old gas lamps were lit by a lamplighter using a ladder, which is why there was a crossbar in the upper part of the pole.

We adapted the fixtures to meet the city’s street lighting needs and carefully selected light sources with the right brightness and color temperature to create a pleasant atmosphere and a safer, more welcoming environment.

The fixtures were initially equipped with E27 sockets but have recently been upgraded to LED, offering a range of benefits such as lower energy consumption, longer lifespan, and better light quality. This has also significantly reduced maintenance costs for the municipality, as fewer repairs and replacements are needed. Furthermore, the transition to LED lighting provided Jönköping with an opportunity to reduce the city’s carbon footprint and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Hovrättstorget and Rådhusparken are connected by the popular Smedjegatan, along which you can also see the classic Jönköping lantern, both on poles and wall-mounted. In addition to Jönköping, these lanterns can be found at several cemeteries, manor houses, and estates across Sweden.