Beneath imposing dark Helsingborg brick walls lies a story of industry and reinvention. This is the Makaronifabriken. Today, it is a school. But its history goes back much further.
The Makaronifabriken stands proudly on Kvarnholmen. It overlooks Saltsjön in Nacka municipality. According to the municipality, the building has a high cultural and historical value. It is especially important from an urban point of view.
Let’s journey back to 1934. The Kooperativa Förbundet’s architect office, KFAI, designed this factory. Olof Hult from KFAI was the architect in charge. The Makaronifabriken was one of several buildings erected by Kooperativa Förbundet on Kvarnholmen. They had taken over Kvarnen Tre Kronor in 1922. Then they began a major investment to expand operations on the island.
Notice the facade. It is made of dark Helsingborg brick. The windows are deeply recessed. The building has a high section to the east with six floors. A long low section stretches out with three floors. The glazed staircase in the high section offers sweeping views over Stockholm’s inlet. This gives the building its functionalist design.
The Makaronifabriken played a vital role in food production. Imagine workers bustling inside. Machines whirred turning wheat into pasta. The aroma of flour and grain filled the air. For decades, this factory churned out pasta for the Swedish people.
But times change. By the year 2000, Kvarnholmen was transforming from an industrial area to a residential area. The Makaronifabriken was renovated. BSK Arkitekter drew up the plans. The lower section of the pasta factory was extended by one floor with glass facades. Extra climate protection was added.
The interior changed. The high machine hall to the east and the entrance hall to the north were preserved. They were integrated into the new design. Nackademin and Cybergymnasiet moved in after the renovation.
A detailed plan from 2010 protects the building. It cannot be demolished. Its exterior must be preserved. In the autumn of 2017, Ebba Braheskolan took over the premises. An entirely new school building was added nearby. It opened in the autumn term of 2021. At the same time, the school left its premises in the Makaronifabriken.
Today, the Makaronifabriken stands as a testament to Stockholm’s industrial past. It also shows its ability to adapt and innovate. This building once fed a nation. Now it educates future generations. The Makaronifabriken is more than just a building. It is a symbol of Kvarnholmen’s evolving story. It is a reminder that even the most functional structures can find new purpose and beauty.