“ABC-stad”. What does it mean? We are standing in Vällingby centrum, a place that was once at the heart of an innovative idea. Vällingby centrum was ground-breaking. It was an international model for modern city planning. This was when it was completed in 1954. The idea was simple. Create self-contained satellite cities outside Stockholm.
Vällingby centrum was meant for about 26000 people. But the concept was so popular the number of residents doubled within ten years. The subway was ready and all the community facilities were completed when the first families moved in.
The modern Vällingby centrum grew from 1950. Svenska Bostäder, a municipal company managed the construction. Vällingby was designed as an ABC city. This meant Arbeitsplatser, Bostäder, and Centrum. That translates to workplaces, housing and a center. It was inaugurated on November 14 1954 by Carl Albert Anderson. People felt there was no need to go to central Stockholm. For the first few years, that was true.
Architects Backström and Reinius designed the new center. They used ideas from the US using different materials. The church wasn’t the center anymore. Shopping became the focus. The center had several low buildings. The stores were Sweden’s most modern. People could stroll along display windows even in bad weather because of the overhanging roofs. Vällingby centrum became a model for urban centers. Architects from all over the world came to see it. Farsta Centrum, south of Stockholm, followed. Backström and Reinius also designed that.
In the 1960s, Vällingby centrum expanded along Ångermannagatan. The Fontänen movie theater’s facade has been restored recently. The movie theater is now Filmstaden Vällingby. A legal dispute prevents SF Bio AB from using the old name. Locals still call it Fontänen.
Vällingby City reopened in spring 2008 after five years of construction. The renovation cost three billion. The upgraded city center kept its famous 1950s vibe. New modern architecture was added. K-fem, designed by Gert Wingårdh, won awards. It was named the world’s best shopping building at the World Architecture Festival in Barcelona in 2008. It also won the Swedish Light Prize in 2008 and the Nordic Light Prize in 2010. Vällingby Centrum was renamed Vällingby City after the 2008 renovation. The name change was never official. In 2017, the owners changed the name back to Vällingby Centrum.
The retail space increased by 70 percent. The TV show “Welcome Back” was filmed in Vällingby centrum in 2010. Vällingby centrum aimed to give residents everything they needed. This reduced the need to travel to central Stockholm. Today, Vällingby centrum remains a significant place. It is a testament to innovative urban planning. It showcases a blend of historical charm and modern architecture. It stands as a reminder of a time when city planners dared to dream of a better way of life.