Perhaps you have already guessed that Lux, meaning “light” in Latin, shares its name with the street it resides on, Luxgatan. This area on Lilla Essingen has a rich industrial history. Let me tell you more about Lux and its connection to this place.
Luxgatan got its name in 1931. It was named after AB Lux, which later became Electrolux. The AB Lux company had its factories in the southeastern part of Lilla Essingen. Before Luxgatan existed, there was a road called Hugo Mattsons vägen. Hugo Mattsson was a merchant who owned much of Lilla Essingen in the late 1800s. After he died in 1904, his heirs sold the land.
In 1931, the city plan for central Lilla Essingen was established. A new residential area was built between 1930 and 1940. Hugo Mattsons vägen disappeared. Luxgatan replaced it, following roughly the same route. When Mariebergsbron bridge was built, Luxgatan lost its importance as the main street. Essinge brogata took over that role instead.
The oldest preserved apartment building on the island is the Föreningshuset. It was built in 1910. It stood on Hugo Mattsson vägen near the old bridge to Kungsholmen. The buildings along the north side of Luxgatan were built in the 1930s. Architects like Ernst Grönvall, Birger Borgström, and Joel Lundeqvist designed them. The southeastern part of Luxgatan features six five-story point houses built between 1932 and 1937.
During World War II, a civilian shelter called Bergrum Luxgatan was built at Luxgatan 26. It could protect up to 1,000 people. Today, a tire company operates there. Lilla Essingen’s elementary school was planned in 1951. It was located at Luxgatan 23 and Essinge brogata 33, near the northern bridgehead of Stora Essingebron. The first stage of the school opened in 1952. Another stage was completed in spring 1953. Plans for an auditorium and gymnasium were never realized. A ball field was built in front of the school. The school closed in 1963.
The AB Lux company, the namesake of Luxgatan, was founded in 1901 in Kungsholmen. It made gas lamps called Lux lamps for outdoor lighting. These lamps were also used in lighthouses worldwide. In 1908, the company moved to Lilla Essingen. In 1919, it became part of the newly formed Elektrolux. The factory buildings expanded continuously. The factory ceased operations in 1999. Most buildings were demolished in 2000. A new residential area was built between 2003 and 2006.
Some historically valuable buildings from the industrial era were saved. One example is the “Vita villan” at Luxgatan and Primusgatan. It was AB Lux’s office built in 1906. Sigge Cronstedt was the architect. The property is Q-marked in the detailed plan. Today, Lux restaurant stands as a reminder of this area’s luminous past.
From its start with kerosene lamps to its evolution into Electrolux, this location on Luxgatan has always been about innovation. The spirit of “light” continues to shine here. Now as a culinary destination, the restaurant Lux carries forward the legacy of its namesake. It is a place where history and modern gastronomy meet.