Gazing around Midsommarkransen, you might not realize its humble beginnings as a simple tavern. This district in Söderort within Stockholm Municipality has transformed dramatically over the years. Midsommarkransen borders Aspudden, Liljeholmen, Västberga, and Hägerstensåsen.
Midsommarkransen’s story starts with a pub. This pub belonged to Hägersten farm. Constructed in 1775, it stood at what is now Nioörtsvägen 42. Fast forward to 1901. The land was sold to AB Tellus. They started a brick factory here in 1905. A small community grew around this factory.
The clay ran out. The brick factory went bankrupt. Nyborgs AB, owned by Olof Aschberg and others, bought the bankrupt company. Their goal was speculative. They aimed to build inexpensive rental apartments away from the crowded city.
1913 was a pivotal year. Brännkyrka rural municipality became part of Stockholm City. This included Midsommarkransen. Architect Per Olof Hallman developed a city plan in 1907. It featured dense, closed, irregular blocks. The plan included 30 blocks of residential buildings. A church and municipal building were planned for the center. The outskirts were reserved for villas. The plan was changed. The exploitation rate increased. Fewer villas were built in favor of more three-story buildings.
In 1910, the land on each side of Vattenledningsvägen was divided. It was split into two development areas. The northern area was named Tellusborg. This honored the company names Tellus and Nyborg. Much of the original plan was retained here. The southern area became Midsommarkransen. AB Förstaden Midsommarkransen began selling villa plots. The first multi-family houses in Tellusborg were erected in October 1908. Most had small apartments for working-class families. They offered good standards for the time like running water and WC.
Marketing emphasized the new suburb’s proximity to the city. Liljeholmsbron was described as “only a 15-minute walk to the city.” There was no railway nearby. Poor public transport remained a problem. In 1911, a tram connection was established. AB Södra Förstadsbanan, with Nyborgs AB as a stakeholder, built it. AB Stockholms Spårvägar bought the tram in 1920. The subway replaced it in 1964.
Midsommarkransen is known for its many arts and crafts shops. At Fastlagsvägen, you can find the artwork Månhästar by Camilla Bergman-Skoglund. It was erected in 1993. Kjell Johansson’s books Vinna hela världen and Huset vid Flon are set in Midsommarkransen.
Today, Midsommarkransen is a sought-after address. It feels like an idyllic village. Small parks dot the quarter. Some host music festivals in the summer. It has its own movie theatre called Tellus. Cafés, restaurants, and shops rival those in the city. They give the community a reason to be proud.
The Tellus cinema is a cultural hub. It opened in 1920. It was a commercial movie theatre until the mid-eighties. Then, a non-profit organization took over. Tellus is one of Stockholm’s few independent cinemas. It offers film screenings plus after-work jazz, poetry readings, and art exhibitions.
To get here, take the red subway line. Head towards Fruängen. Get off at the Midsommarkransen station.