“Lights, camera, action!” echoes not just within these walls, but through the very history of Fullersta bio. This isn’t just a building. It’s a time capsule. Let me tell you its story.
Fullersta bio stands as a testament to Huddinge’s cultural heritage. Built between 1932 and 1933, it was designed as a counterpart to the Fullersta farm. The building represents functionalist design. It originally housed Huddinge’s first consumer stores on the ground floor. Above that was a cinema.
This building arose from cooperation. The Building Association Folkets Hus, the municipal board in Huddinge, and the household management society collaborated. Folkets Hus rented its premises. Since its construction, the building has been known as Fullersta bio. Dag Ribbing, an architect at KFAI, designed it. Eskil Sundahl, the chief architect, oversaw the project. Kalle Lodén created the wall decoration in the cinema hall. The cinema projectionist lived on the top floor. There were also office rooms for the consumer shop. The shops could be reached via the entrance facing Norrängsvägen. The cinema entrance faced Källbrinksvägen. The construction cost 156,260 kronor. That is almost 5 million kronor in today’s money.
Imagine the excitement. It was the latest movies. It was a place for the community to gather. But times change.
After the consumer shops and cinema closed, the building fell into disrepair. But in the mid-1990s, Huddinge municipality began renovating the property. Since autumn 1996, the Huddinge Artists’ Club has operated the Fullersta Bio Konsthall. It is located on the ground floor. The old cinema hall and associated spaces are used by the “Á la Carte Theatre”. They are part of the Adult Education Association.
In the entrance, the light gray tiles whisper tales of the Konsum store. Upstairs, the original ticket booth remains. Posters and newspaper clippings adorn the walls. It feels like someone just locked the door and stepped out.
There were challenges. In 2014, the premises on the ground floor stood empty after a rent increase. In 2021, building permits were approved for a long-debated renovation. The plan was to house various cultural activities for children and young people.
The building is special. It has a long history of public access. The municipality wants it to be a meeting place. It should offer public culture for Huddinge residents of all ages. The goal is that Fullersta bio becomes an open place. It should be created by and for the residents.
Fullersta bio is more than bricks and mortar. It is a living testament. It shows community spirit. It is a blend of art, theater, and history. It shows the heart of Huddinge.