Address: Baldersgatan 1, Stockholm, Sweden
Fiounder: Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Stig Anderson
Polar Studios was Sweden’s most famous recording facility and one of the most technically advanced studios in Europe during its time. Established in 1978 by ABBA members Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, together with their manager Stig Anderson, the studio was designed to provide ABBA with complete control over the sound of their recordings. Built inside a converted cinema in central Stockholm, Polar Studios quickly became a hub for international artists seeking pristine sound and cutting-edge production. Its acoustically perfect rooms, state-of-the-art equipment, and relaxed Scandinavian atmosphere made it one of the great studios of the late twentieth century.
Current Status: Defunct
After the global success of ABBA, Ulvaeus, Andersson, and Anderson decided to build a studio that would meet the group’s increasingly sophisticated recording requirements. Working with engineer Michael B. Tretow, they created Polar Studios, which opened in 1978 and immediately became the home of ABBA’s final albums, including Voulez-Vous (1979), Super Trouper (1980), and The Visitors (1981).
Polar Studios was the first major studio in Sweden to feature a fully air-suspended control room floor for vibration isolation and was among the first in Europe to install a Harrison 4032 console with 24-track Studer A80 tape machines. The studio’s combination of precision and warmth made it ideal for ABBA’s layered vocal harmonies and lush arrangements.
Beyond ABBA, Polar attracted some of the world’s top recording artists, including Led Zeppelin, who mixed parts of In Through the Out Door (1979) there, as well as Genesis, Roxy Music, and The Backstreet Boys in later years. The studio became known for its technical excellence, musical hospitality, and the clarity of its recordings.
In the 1990s Polar Studios continued to host major international projects, but following changes in ownership and the evolution of digital production, it closed in 2004. Its equipment was later auctioned, and the building now houses offices and private studios.
Details Coming Soon!
