Picture the year 1957. Stockholm was expanding. A new industrial area was planned. This was the birth of Älvsjö industriområde. Right here before you lies a testament to that ambitious vision.
Älvsjö industriområde wasn’t just another industrial park. It was strategically planned. It sits southwest of Stockholmsmässan. It’s nestled in a triangle between the Nynäsbanan and Västra stambanan railway lines. This location ensured easy transport. Goods could easily move by rail and road.
The area was once undeveloped farmland. Part of the Älvsjö farm to be precise. Imagine the transformation. From open fields to a bustling industrial hub. The topography varied. From flat lowlands to hillier terrain.
The initial plan focused on light industry. Offices were also part of the vision. A planned road connection to Salemsleden never materialized. You can still see traces of this plan on maps from the 1970s. A planned large intersection is visible. It’s roughly where Huddingevägen makes a sharp turn today.
Central plots had access to an industrial rail spur. This connected to the Nynäsbanan railway line. Western plots connected to the larger SJ rail yard. Today those rail links are gone. The spur remains but is unused.
A U-shaped industrial street was built. It’s now Varuvägen and Konsumentvägen. Six industrial districts were created. These were named Leverantören Nederlaget Magasinet Konsumenten Fabrikören and Varubilen. Grossistvägen was added later in 1987. This was on land reserved for the abandoned Salemsleden project. The area’s size increased by 3.5 hectares. The Fabrikören 6 plot was originally intended for a hotel. Today it houses Rainbow Stödboende.
There were also plans for a subway station. It would have been south of Älvsjö industriområde. It was supposed to extend the Hagsätra branch. This was planned to run from Rågsved to Älvsjö. This extension was dropped from the 1965 Stockholm subway plan.
The area expanded further. This was east of Huddingevägen. It followed the city plan Pl. 5148 A approved in 1958. This extension was called Hagsätra industriområde. It included names like Nyodlaren Krakstören Stubbekarlen and Brännlandet. Stockholm City calls the entire combined area Älvsjö Företagsområde.
In the late 1950s physical planning began. Infrastructure was built. Companies started moving in. Hemköp Stockholm built a distribution center in 1957-1958. Westin & Backlund a workshop company built in 1963-1964. Siemens built in the mid-1960s. Their names were painted on the roofs. You can see this in a 1971 aerial photo. Ericsson also had a facility on Varuvägen 9. It was originally designed in 1967 for AB Mekanprodukter. The architect was Karl G H Karlsson.
Älvsjö Företagsområde today boasts over 150 workplaces. There are about 1800 employees. Major companies include AGA Gas Alstom Transport Bosch Rexroth AB Skanska and Mekonomen. The largest property owners are Pefab Gillesvik Sagax and Klövern. This area is a significant part of Stockholm’s industrial heritage. A testament to vision and planning. Its story continues to unfold.