Kranglan

In 1909, along a winding waterway to Stockholm, a grand brick edifice began to rise. This is Kranglan. Kranglan’s name may echo the crooked path of the water, hinting at its unique location. Nacka Municipality, needing a place to care for the poor, sick, and elderly, built Kranglan. The building cost around 180,000 kronor, a hefty sum in those days, including the land. The municipality purchased the land from the Kolbotten estate, part of Erstavik, for a mere two öre per square foot. Kranglan quickly became a bustling hub. In 1911, the operating budget, including food for 35 healthy residents, 15 sick individuals, and the staff, was 36,500 kronor. Frugality was the rule. Just a year later, in 1912, a small farm was established at Kranglan, boosting self-sufficiency. This proved especially profitable during the challenging times of World War I. However, as the war ended, the farm’s profitability dwindled, leading to its closure in 1932. Kranglan also played a role in the local ice trade. Horse-drawn carts hauled ice from the frozen waters near Kranglan to ice houses, ensuring a cool supply for the summer months. In the 1920s, saving electricity was paramount. A walkway between Kranglan, the bridge, and Fannydalsvägen relied on wall switches. Anyone passing by after dark would flick the switch to illuminate their path and turn it off again afterward. By 1951, Kranglan’s role as a care home ended. New elder care facilities were built in central Nacka. Housing care homes outside the densely populated areas had become less acceptable. Atlas Copco then rented Kranglan, providing housing for its workers, mainly skilled technicians from Italy. The once somber building was filled with laughter and lively gatherings on the grassy shores. Wine flowed, likely accompanied by the Italian tradition of “vinbergssnäckor,” or wine-soaked breadsticks. The plentiful crayfish in the nearby lake, however, remained untouched. Sadly, the crayfish plague of 1980 decimated the population. Kranglan, still owned by the municipality, changed hands in the late 1970s, sold to an electronics company. They renovated the building, even replacing the original windows. For about 20 years, Kranglan housed their development department and manufacturing operations. Finally, in 2002, Kranglan was converted into private apartments, ensuring the preservation of this historically significant building. The extensive renovations promise to extend its lifespan, allowing it to stand for another hundred years, a testament to its enduring legacy.