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On 8 May 1954, Västgötagården's oldest house at Tornavägen was inaugurated, with street number 17. It was quickly realised that another house was needed for the increasing number of students from Västgötland and in 1958 the second house was completed. Originally, it was intended that this house too would be erected in hand-struck brick. However, this turned out to be too expensive and instead it had to be plastered. The houses are designed by the renowned architect Ivar Tengbom, the originator of Stockholm Concert Hall, for example. According to the historiography, the two houses' bodies are supposed to symbolize a Västgötsk farmhouse with a dwelling house and a law-yard.
In 1993, a major renovation was carried out. Now each dorm room got its own shower and toilet, instead of a communal toilet in the hallway. Furthermore, the kitchens were made modern and functional. The living space was expanded by the addition of loft apartments on the third floor of 17A and 19. In recent years, both bathrooms and kitchens have been replaced — today the latter all boast genuine Västgötsk quality in the form of Kvänum kitchens.
Already in 1946, discussions had begun in the nation about the construction of a student residence hall, inspired by the new housing of the Academic Society (AF) and by the Värmlands Nation, which was the first nation to inaugurate its own nation house. Until then, unlike Uppsala with its old tradition of nation houses, the nations had only available premises at AF for meetings and gatherings. When the discussions settled on a decision to build a house of its own, the question was where it should be located. When the City of Lund offered a plot of land at Tuna Park, this was not immediately accepted. The plot was considered too uncentrally located, and some feared it would be difficult to attract students to such a remote location.
Under the leadership of the tireless inspector of the nation, Ragnar Bring (inspector 1939-62), an extraordinarily effective fundraising and pressure group was started and in 1950 a “Call for collection for the construction of a Västgöta nation in Lund student home” was printed. It noted, among other things, that student accommodation was scarce and that existing private rooms were often unsuitable “from a soundproofing and hygienic point of view”. The petition was signed by Ragnar Bring and the then curators, with the concurrence of the Duke of Västergötland, Prince Carl, the county governors Carl Mannerfelt in Mariestad and Arvid Richert in Vänersborg, the bishops of Skara and Gothenburg, and the chairman of the AF.
Among these prominent figures, Arvid Richert, honorary member of the nation and former diplomat, had undertaken to be the leader of the collection and he enlisted the help of the well-known industrialist in Borås, Arthur “Arta” Andersson. Together with Ragnar Bring, they travelled criss-cross the landscape courting industrialists, bankers and politicians. Obviously, “Arta”, with a large network of contacts in Västgötska industrial circles, and the world-habituated Richert knew both how generous Västgöts were to find and how a Västgötsk negotiation would take place. The result of the fundraising was overwhelming: 400 000 SEK was collected — which may not sound like much today, but then you should consider that a new Volvo at that time cost 7000! The money, and other donations in the form of furnishings and porcelain, were in any case enough to pay for the new, stately house. Ivar Tengbom's (fertile from Västergötland, professor and director general of the Royal Danish Building Agency) was free of charge, as was the interior designer Astrid Sampes, responsible for the interior design. With, to quote Västgötagården's anniversary letter from 1995, “well-stocked funds, with a beautifully situated plot, with renowned architects and generous donors, Västgöta nation finally got its student home, beautiful and well equipped with a very high standard for that time”.
Even in 1957-58, when the new house was under construction, “beggars' trips” to the homestead took place, again with good results. Rörstrand, under director Fredrik Wehtje, also contributed this time with whole tableware of blue East India porcelain to all kitchens. This time, too, the trips were led by Inspector Bring, now in the company of Proinspektor Ulf Persson and members of the Curate. County Governor Richert contributed letters of recommendation. He had by this time become chairman of the Västgötagården Foundation, formed to manage the funds donated to Västgötagården, and which now directs the operations and handles all the affairs of the houses.
The extensive renovation in 1991-1993, which was really needed after 40 years of student life wear and tear, was initiated and overhauled by Inspector Olof Wärneryd. It led to a powerful standard improvement. The corridors, nine in total, since the advent of the house had shower rooms and toilets for the room-holders to share. In the basement there was also a nice sauna. Renovation at the turn of the 1990s meant that all units, even the single rooms, were given en-suite bathrooms with toilets. The corridor kitchens were enlarged with the space the previous shower rooms had. On the third floor, most rooms were given sleeping lofts. In the basement level, the nation was given a brighter expedition by having an amphitheater built outside the expedition and the former basement windows thus being able to be replaced by normal windows. The former caretaker's residence was rebuilt into new single units. This extensive renovation was undertaken by the Foundation using its strong finances and new beneficial loans so that significant rent increases could be avoided. Nevertheless — and also due to the fact that the renovation was not always carried out in a desirable way (among other things, the tiles in the bathroom tended to fall out) — the house is in need of continuous maintenance. Currently, the Foundation usually allocates approximately SEK 700,000 per year for maintenance costs. In addition, the Foundation assists the nation in its improvement works. Thus, on larger stakes, such as new club kitchens, the foundation takes out loans, which the nation then pays off over a number of years under contract.
Foundation and nation are thus in a kind of symbiotic relationship. The house is for the nation and its members, while the Foundation looks after the interests of its tenants, current and future. The nation is a major tenant and by far the largest user of the house's premises. The cooperation is very good. Sometimes — but not often — interests go in different directions but we always manage to reach solutions that both parties are happy with. The negotiations are problem-solving, rather than conflict-oriented. The close and friendly relationship is also underscored by the fact that the House foremen sit on the nation's senior college and by the fact that the nation is richly represented on the foundation's board of directors. Over the years, this board has always and by a strong majority consisted of past and present nation assets. Västgötagården has been the residence and seat of the nation for 65 years, and as long as the house keeps its style, the nation will also have the best conditions to do so for at least another 350 years.
-Ole Elgström
Inspector 1999-2009 and Chairman of the Västgötagården Foundation
This text can also be found in Västgöta nation's anniversary book from 2019: Den västgötska andan, Lund: Westrogothica Publishing House.
