Dream of a time long before the city’s sprawl. Picture a vast meadow. That’s what Storängen was once. This villa area in Nacka started as just that a large meadow. It belonged to the Järla estate.
In 1904, everything changed. The area began to develop. The location along the Saltsjöbanan railway was key. People seeking homes needed to join a new association. It was named Tjänstemännens Egnahemsförening. This translates to “The Civil Servants’ Own Home Association”. The association helped members secure land. The land came from the railway company itself. The company wanted more passengers on its trains.
Storängen became attractive for several reasons. It was close to the city. It had a rural setting. The Saltsjöbanan offered great transport to Stockholm.
The plots were generally large. They measured about 1,000 to 1,500 square meters. Some people bought even more land. They wanted bigger gardens around their houses.
Not everyone had lots of money. The association made a deal with an insurance company. This helped members get loans. Members also guaranteed each other’s loans. The amount was up to 1,500 kr. This came with limited personal liability.
Storängen is now considered one of Sweden’s best-preserved villa areas. It dates back to the early 1900s. Many villas have high architectural quality. They are well-preserved. They sit on large lush plots. The road network is largely intact. So are the plot divisions. The station, school, and green spaces remain. Storängen has been of national interest since 1987. It is important for cultural preservation.
A family atmosphere existed in Storängen from the beginning. Ängen and Parken were common gathering places. People had parties and socialized there. They managed fire protection themselves. They hired staff to maintain roads and cleanliness. Schooling started small. Later, a school building was constructed. It accommodated many students. It also had an assembly hall. Much of what society now handles started with private initiatives here.
Storängen soon became home to artists and other professionals. Painters included Hanna and Georg Pauli. Richard Bergh and Anton Genberg also lived here. Sculptor John Börjesson called Storängen home. Etcher Carl Hjalmar Norrström lived here too.
Gustaf Hugo Sandberg was Storängen’s most frequent architect. He settled here. Ivar Callmander did too. Book publishers Wahlström and Widstrand both resided in Storängen. Per Hallström also lived here. He was an author and a member of the Swedish Academy.
Composer Gunnar de Frumerie spent part of his childhood in Storängen. Chamber musician Fredrik Trobäck lived here. So did opera singer Emile Stiebel.
The association agreed with the railway company. The association would have the right to secure plots for its members. After the original area was full, it expanded twice. This expanded area is now the association’s member area.
When Storängen began to develop, there was no municipal building committee. The association established its own. It had similar powers to today’s committees. Building regulations outlined requirements for houses. The regulations could not be determined by the King. Therefore, they cannot be repealed by the state or municipality. It is a private matter. Only members of the association control it.
Nearly all properties in the area have a villa easement. This means owners can require other properties to follow certain rules. At the same time, they themselves must follow these rules. The regulations mainly concern materials and dimensions. They are important for new houses. Certain rules are still relevant today. Only one house per plot is allowed. It must be for private housing for no more than two families. It is not allowed to divide the plot. It is also forbidden to use the house for anything other than private housing. The association’s building committee must approve each change. The easement dates from 1905. Yet, it is still valid. The Svea Court of Appeal confirmed this in 1996. Of course, municipal building permit regulations also apply.