Tucked away here is Lilla Frösunda. It is a place with whispers of history. Before the 1990s, this area was defined by military activity. Imagine Signalregementet S1 once operating here. Svea ingenjörregemente Ing 1 was also nearby. The area became known as Frösunda-detachementet. It served as lodging for troops performing high guard duty.
Lilla Frösunda offers more than just military memories. Travel back 2000 years. The Brunnsviken shoreline was about ten meters higher. Fröfjärden connected Saltsjön and Mälaren near Ulvsundasjön. Today’s Järva krog and Ritorp were underwater then. Överjärva and Nederjärva were populated earlier. Burial grounds near Stora Frösunda farm date back to 400 BC. Other graves in the area are from the Viking Age.
Frösunda is bordered by the E4 highway to the east. Ritorp lies to the north. The railway is to the west. Haga Norra is to the south. Solna’s overview plan describes Frösunda as mixed urban development. This includes housing, workplaces, services, and parks. A small city park was built between Frösunda and Ritorp before 2015.
Frösunda consists of three parts. There is Ballongberget. Then there is the area along Gustav III:s Boulevard to the field south of Ritorp. NCC built this part and calls it Frösunda. The northern part extends from the field to Ritorp. It goes past Ritorp’s ice rink back to Kolonnvägen. JM is developing this area and calls it Frösunda park.
Today Frösunda houses both residential buildings and offices. Commercial properties along the E4 provide noise protection. Development started in the late 1990s and continues. Most residences are tenant-owner apartments. There is also a nursing home and student apartments. NCC has built 1650 apartments. JM is building about 750 more. Frösunda’s total office space is around 150000 square meters. The population increased by over 400 people per year between 1999 and 2010.
When complete, over 10000 people will live and work in Frösunda. Some military buildings have been preserved. The old office building now houses SIPRI. A lodging building is now a preschool. The military training building is now a school. Administratively, Frösunda belongs to the Järva area.
Many large companies have offices in Frösunda. These include Canon, Eniro, and JM. Others are Hewlett Packard, Agresso, Gartner, Eli Lilly, Bisnode, Bayer, and Billerud. All these companies have offices on Gustav III:s Boulevard near the E4. This provides both noise protection and excellent signage.
The naming of Gustav III:s Boulevard sparked debate. Critics felt boulevard sounded too French. They suggested gata, väg, or allé instead. The boulevard is lined with cafes, restaurants, shops, and service stores. Frösunda has two independent schools. These are Alfaskolan and Vittra Frösunda. There are also three independent preschools. A municipal preschool called Kullen opened in 2007. Two pedestrian tunnels under the E4 and a bridge connect Frösundavik with Hagaparken and Brunnsviken.
A 220kV power line used to run through the area. It was part of the electrical ring around Stockholm. It has been rerouted through a tunnel. The Bergshamra Tunnel was completed first. The Frösunda Tunnel was inaugurated in 2006. Stockholm Energi and Fortum built the tunnels.
Frösunda’s architecture varies in style. Different architectural firms designed the buildings. Community services are small-scale. Several properties have been nominated for Solna’s urban environment award. JM’s headquarters won the award in 1999.
In 2001, Canon moved to a new office building in Frösunda. The building’s size and location suited Canon. Canon hired Tengbom’s architectural firm to adapt the property. In 2013, they moved to a new building. Today, Stoneridge owns the old Canon building.
Lilla Frösunda and Stora Frösunda farm are historical elements. SAS Institute uses Stora Frösunda farm. Lilla Frösunda consists of a rental space and three private residences.
Frösunda’s street names have historical backgrounds. Gustav III never lived in Frösunda. The connection is Hagaparken nearby. Signalistgatan and Ballonggatan refer to the former signal regiment. Signe Tillischgatan and Pomonagatan refer to apple varieties. There is an apple grove near Lilla Frösunda. Anders Lundströms Gata is named after a former owner of Lilla Frösunda. Telegrafgatan and Brevduvegatan honor the signal regiment. They also refer to the hills where the regiment had activities. Frögatan refers to the god of fertility. Sofia Magdalenas Plats is named after Gustav III’s wife.
So here we stand at Lilla Frösunda a place where history and modernity intertwine. From military grounds to a thriving community, this area has transformed. As you explore, remember the layers of time beneath your feet.