AsMember of the group "ABBAeveryone knows him: Björn Ulvaeus became an international music star with the quartet. The Swede's many creative projects have recently included anew marina in his home countrySlottsholmen in Västervik on the east coast of the country.
Aboutone hundred nautical miles south of Stockholm not only 420 berths in the most beautiful location, but also a hotel with a conference centre and restaurant.
It should be a place to meet - a "place for encounters".
In this interview, Björn Ulvaeus explains what is behind the idea and what proximity to water means to him personally.
BOOTE: Björn Ulvaeus, what do you think of when people talk about "living on the water" these days?
Björn Ulvaeus: Certainly not just living by a stream, although that can certainly be nice too. For me, it means being able to raise my eyes and look out over a wide open expanse of water. I'm very lucky to live in Stockholm, a city made up of islands. There you are always surrounded by water.
BOOTE: You are someone who has always worked creatively. Why did you get involved in this particular project?
Björn Ulvaeus: It both stimulated and challenged my creative streak. I grew up in Västervik. So I asked myself: Can I create a place for encounters here? Can I give something back to this town to which I owe such an idyllic childhood and youth? My aim with this project was to prove that you can remain true to your roots, even if you have made your career on the international stage.
BOOTE: What is your favourite aspect in connection with slotted spars?
Björn Ulvaeus: My youngest daughter Anna and her husband Calle have put the project at the centre of their lives. They have moved from Stockholm to Västervik to run Slottsholmen, which is a great pleasure for me.
BOOTE: Where do you see the advantages of the Västervik location?
Björn Ulvaeus: From the point of view of a German pleasure craft skipper, it's one of the guest harbours that you simply have to visit when you're cruising along the Swedish east coast. I even think it's the best. Västervik is a really charming little town, and Slottsholmen, with its excellent range of services, is right in front of it on Skeppsbrofjärden. What's more, no other marina is so close to Visby.
BOOTE: In a way, the whole of Sweden is on the water, not only along its long Baltic coast, but also around the countless lakes in the country's interior. What is your favourite place?
Björn Ulvaeus: The small island of Bullerön in the outer Stockholm archipelago. I've often paddled around there all alone, surrounded only by birds, and thought: At this moment, there is no other place in the whole world I would rather be.
