Children with red cheeks. That was the vision behind Rökinda barnhem. This former children’s home has a story etched into its walls.
Welcome to Rökinda barnhem. It is located beside Lake Magelungen in Farsta strand. This red wooden villa was built in 1916-1917. The architectural firm Kellgren & Hammarling designed it for the Bernström Foundation. The name “Rökinda” suggested fresh air would give the children red cheeks.
Imagine this villa on a hill. It slopes southward toward Magelungen. The house had seven rooms. It also had a kitchen and a bathroom for the children. A two-room apartment with a kitchen housed the caretaker.
In the summer of 1921, Malmqvistska barnuppfostringsanstalten moved in. They previously occupied premises at Torkel Knutssonsgatan 22. In 1924 eleven children were admitted. They received regular elementary school education here at Rökinda barnhem.
Stockholm City took over Rökinda barnhem in 1948. In 1971 Stockholm County Council took over. The property was then used for various youth activities. For a long time the house stood empty from 2008. It was renovated afterward. The building is now privately owned.
Originally the plot was 10100 square meters. It has been divided into four smaller plots. As of 2011 the site was being cleared. New construction of semi-detached and terraced houses was planned.
Many institutions for children increased by the second half of the 1800s. Many children had parents who were sick dead or single. Barnhems provided a place for children to grow up. They were models even for orphanages. Good-natured children from difficult circumstances were placed in a barnhem like Rökinda barnhem.
Girls in barnhems were trained for female labor. Many became domestic servants or “Piga” for households. By the late 1800s fewer young women wanted domestic work. More found jobs in manufacturing. Some barnhems for girls focused on educational training. They aimed to help them become school teachers.
The history of Rökinda barnhem reflects a changing society. It shows evolving attitudes toward children’s welfare. From a home for fresh air and education to youth activities and private residence Rökinda barnhem has adapted. Its walls hold stories of care reform and the lives touched within.