Södra Ängby
Encyclopedia
Södra Ängby is a residential area
blending functionalism
with garden city
ideals, located in western Stockholm
, Sweden
, forming part of the Bromma borough
.
Encompassing more than 500 buildings, it remains the largest coherent functionalistic villa
area in Sweden and possibly the world, still well-preserved more than a half-century after its construction 1933–40 and protected as a national cultural heritage.
The area covers 1.1 square kilometres, and is inhabited by 1,744 people.
While traditional villas and cottages still dominated house production in the early 1930s, a few exclusive villas were built in the new Functionalist style, inspired by the showcases at the Stockholm International Exhibition 1930
. One of the earliest examples is the villa architect Sven Markelius
, one of the leader of the exhibition, had built for himself at Nockeby
1930–31. Its strict geometry, its bright plaster façades, and its elevated location with nature left untouched around the building makes it characteristic of villas in Bromma.
While Functionalist villas were also built elsewhere in Stockholm, for example at Stora Essingen
and Mälarhöjden
, no contemporary suburb could match the extent and execution of Södra Ängby. The Ängby area was bought by the city in 1904 and, due to its flatter terrain, Norra Ängby, the northern area surrounding Ängby Manor, was used for self-built single-family houses starting in 1931. Södra Ängby with its forest and hilly terrain offered more of a challenge. There, roads were adopted to topography while forest was left pretty much untouched, which resulted in the appearance of rows of bright villas scattered across the preserved forest. It was almost entirely the design of Edvin Engström, head of the one-family housing agency of the city's property office (fastighetskontorets egnahembyrå) and the architect behind successful National Romantic
residential areas during the 1920s.
All the villas are variations on a strict functionalistic theme: Cubic volumes, flat-rolled sheet roofs, large windows, and rounded balconies adorned with fine plate and forged metal details clearly inspired by ocean liner
s. In Stockholm, most suburbs are centred on a small square, but at Södra Ängby the commercial centre is a row of peripheral Functionalist buildings located near the present metro station. On its completion, city construction director (stadsbyggnadsdirektör) Göran Sidenbladh referred to Södra Ängby as "the last garden city
".
Residential area
A residential area is a land use in which housing predominates, as opposed to industrial and commercial areas.Housing may vary significantly between, and through, residential areas. These include single family housing, multi-family residential, or mobile homes. Zoning for residential use may permit...
blending functionalism
Functionalism (architecture)
Functionalism, in architecture, is the principle that architects should design a building based on the purpose of that building. This statement is less self-evident than it first appears, and is a matter of confusion and controversy within the profession, particularly in regard to modern...
with garden city
Garden city movement
The garden city movement is a method of urban planning that was initiated in 1898 by Sir Ebenezer Howard in the United Kingdom. Garden cities were intended to be planned, self-contained communities surrounded by "greenbelts" , containing proportionate areas of residences, industry and...
ideals, located in western Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, forming part of the Bromma borough
Bromma borough
Bromma is a so called borough in the western part of Stockholm, Sweden, forming part of the Stockholm Municipality. Bromma is primarily made up of the parish with the same name, and the parish of Västerled...
.
Encompassing more than 500 buildings, it remains the largest coherent functionalistic villa
Villa
A villa was originally an ancient Roman upper-class country house. Since its origins in the Roman villa, the idea and function of a villa have evolved considerably. After the fall of the Roman Republic, villas became small farming compounds, which were increasingly fortified in Late Antiquity,...
area in Sweden and possibly the world, still well-preserved more than a half-century after its construction 1933–40 and protected as a national cultural heritage.
The area covers 1.1 square kilometres, and is inhabited by 1,744 people.
History
Stockholm International Exhibition (1930)
The Stockholm Exhibition was an exhibition held in 1930 in Stockholm, Sweden, that had a great impact on the architectural styles known as Functionalism and International Style....
. One of the earliest examples is the villa architect Sven Markelius
Sven Markelius
Sven Gottfrid Markelius was one of the most important modernist Swedish architects. Markelius played an important role in the post-war urban planning of Stockholm, for example in the creation of the model suburb of Vällingby .Born in Stockholm in October 1889, he attended the Royal Institute of...
, one of the leader of the exhibition, had built for himself at Nockeby
Nockeby
Nockeby is a residential district in western Stockholm and part of the Bromma borough....
1930–31. Its strict geometry, its bright plaster façades, and its elevated location with nature left untouched around the building makes it characteristic of villas in Bromma.
While Functionalist villas were also built elsewhere in Stockholm, for example at Stora Essingen
Stora Essingen
Stora Essingen is an island and a district in the Kungsholmen borough in Stockholm, Sweden. The Essingeleden motorway, part of European route E4, passes along a section of the eastern shore...
and Mälarhöjden
Mälarhöjden
Mälarhöjden is a suburb in south-west Stockholm, Sweden. It is a part of Hägersten borough. The area is dominated by single-family houses. It borders Hägersten, Västertorp, Fruängen and Bredäng. As of 2004, the area had 4022 inhabitants....
, no contemporary suburb could match the extent and execution of Södra Ängby. The Ängby area was bought by the city in 1904 and, due to its flatter terrain, Norra Ängby, the northern area surrounding Ängby Manor, was used for self-built single-family houses starting in 1931. Södra Ängby with its forest and hilly terrain offered more of a challenge. There, roads were adopted to topography while forest was left pretty much untouched, which resulted in the appearance of rows of bright villas scattered across the preserved forest. It was almost entirely the design of Edvin Engström, head of the one-family housing agency of the city's property office (fastighetskontorets egnahembyrå) and the architect behind successful National Romantic
National Romantic Style
The National Romantic style was a Nordic architectural style that was part of the national romantic movement during the late 19th and early 20th century. Designers turned to early Medieval and even prehistoric precedents to construct a style appropriate to the perceived character of a people...
residential areas during the 1920s.
All the villas are variations on a strict functionalistic theme: Cubic volumes, flat-rolled sheet roofs, large windows, and rounded balconies adorned with fine plate and forged metal details clearly inspired by ocean liner
Ocean liner
An ocean liner is a ship designed to transport people from one seaport to another along regular long-distance maritime routes according to a schedule. Liners may also carry cargo or mail, and may sometimes be used for other purposes .Cargo vessels running to a schedule are sometimes referred to as...
s. In Stockholm, most suburbs are centred on a small square, but at Södra Ängby the commercial centre is a row of peripheral Functionalist buildings located near the present metro station. On its completion, city construction director (stadsbyggnadsdirektör) Göran Sidenbladh referred to Södra Ängby as "the last garden city
Garden city movement
The garden city movement is a method of urban planning that was initiated in 1898 by Sir Ebenezer Howard in the United Kingdom. Garden cities were intended to be planned, self-contained communities surrounded by "greenbelts" , containing proportionate areas of residences, industry and...
".