Mälarhöjden

In 1909, a simple question echoed in a Stockholm villa: “What shall we call this place?” Thus, the story of Mälarhöjden begins. Mälarhöjden, a charming suburb nestled in southwest Stockholm, didn’t always bear that name. It was once known as Fridhem. This tranquil community, dominated by single-family houses, sits proudly within the Hägersten borough, bordering Hägersten, Västertorp, Fruängen, and Bredäng. As of 2004, around 4,022 souls called Mälarhöjden home. The name “Fridhem” proved too common, causing confusion with other Swedish locales. The search for a new name led to a gathering at Villa Emilsberg, home of wholesaler Nils Sandberg, owner of the historic Johannisdalsgården farm. Among the many suggestions, one stood out: “Mälarhöjden,” proposed by Sandberg’s housekeeper, Emma Hedin. The name, meaning “Mälar height,” perfectly captured the area’s elevated position overlooking the shimmering waters of Lake Mälaren. Mälarhöjden’s roots stretch back to the early 20th century. In the 19th century, wealthy Stockholmers began building summer homes in the area. Farms like Pettersbergsgården, Johannisdalsgården, Jakobsbergs gård, and Slättens gård dotted the landscape. Slättens gård, a croft under Sätra gård, dates back to 1762. Three of its buildings still stand proudly at 80 Slättgårdsvägen. Johannisdalsgården, part of Hägersten gård, is known from the 1770s. Though its original structures, located on present-day Brittmässgatan, were demolished in the 1940s, its name lives on in Johannisdalsgatan and the Johannisdalsgården neighborhood. A tram line opened in 1913, connecting Mälarhöjden to the city center, its terminus situated near the current metro station at the intersection of Hägerstensvägen and Slättgårdsvägen. The 1920s saw significant development. Much of Johannisdalsgården’s land was transformed into residential areas. A small shopping center emerged near the tram terminus, a row of shops gracing the ground floor of a building completed in 1937 at 1-3 Slättgårdsvägen. The area even boasted its own cinema, the Mälarbio, on Mälarhöjdsvägen. Education also flourished. Johannisdal School, opened in 1905, soon needed expansion. Architect Georg A. Nilsson designed a new building for what became Mälarhöjden School, opening in 1925. A mirror-image building followed in 1930. Mälarhöjden Church, designed by Hakon Ahlberg, was consecrated in 1929. The artistic spirit thrives in Mälarhöjden. Public artworks by Ninnan Santesson and Bror Hjorth grace the area. Today, Mälarhöjden stands as a testament to its rich past, a blend of old and new, a community shaped by the vision of those who sought a peaceful retreat overlooking the waters of Lake Mälaren.