Once Kvarnholmen was just an island for industry. Now it is becoming a great place to live. Kvarnholmen sits in Nacka near Stockholm. Saltsjön is to the north. Svindersvik bay is to the south.
Let’s talk about Kvarnholmen’s story. It begins with a mill. The mill was named Qvarnen Tre Kronor. It started in 1897.
In 1922 things changed. Kooperativa Förbundet bought the mill. They made Kvarnholmen into a mix of factories and homes. The homes were for the company’s workers. The style was functionalist.
But in 1992 the food factories closed. Kvarnholmen needed a new plan. In 2007 a change began. The old industrial buildings would become homes. Empty land would get new houses. Kvarnholmen would become a neighborhood.
Today about 2655 people live on Kvarnholmen. By 2040 more than 5000 people are expected to call Kvarnholmen home.
Kvarnholmen is being developed into a vibrant urban environment. This transformation has turned the island into a new residential area. It is conveniently located near Stockholm city center.
A bridge was built over Svindersviken. This bridge ensures access to Kvarnholmen. It also creates a direct link to Nacka Municipality.
The bridge project is remarkable. It features an asymmetrical arch bridge. The steel arch is 145 meters long. It transitions to a 48-meter prestressed concrete bridge. The bridge gently curves when viewed from above. This curve presented a unique challenge in the geometry of the main arch beams. The arch beams have a dynamic slope toward the center of the curve. This compensates for the effects of the forces. Each arch beam has its own angle of inclination and radius. This optimizes the forces within the structure.
The bridge’s superstructure is co-located. The steel structure forms the basis of the concrete carriageway slab.
The project also included the connection to the mainland. This involved a 260-meter rock tunnel. It also included a 46-meter connecting concrete tunnel in an open pit. A separate 44-meter girder bridge was built for pedestrians and cyclists. Various concrete retaining walls and about 1 km of road construction were also part of the project. Water pipes and electrical installations were included.
Some buildings on Kvarnholmen are being converted into homes. Other buildings like the Macaroni Factory will become offices. Some will become cultural centers. Others will be local hubs or schools.
Kvarnholmen shows how a place can change. From factories to a modern neighborhood Kvarnholmen has a bright future.