Construction has begun on a new housing quarter at the former industrial site Heliotropen in Malmö's Johanneslust district, according to a report from Sydsvenskan. The project, led by municipal housing company MKB, will create 112 rental apartments in buildings made from recycled brick. The development draws architectural inspiration from both the nearby Bulltofta airport and classic railway carriages, connecting to the area's industrial history.
Project leader Elly Fagerström, working with architect Annika Ljung from Här Malmö, explained that design elements were taken from the old aircraft hangar in the vicinity. MKB's new production manager Christina Lundby added that rounded forms on roof domes and entrances are meant to evoke classic railway carriages, referencing the Swedish State Railways' former workshops in the area. The site, previously one of Malmö's most polluted areas due to chemical industry operations including Gullvik AB's pesticide manufacturing, has undergone extensive remediation.
design elements were taken from the old aircraft hangar in the vicinity
The housing project received building permit approval from the city planning committee in late March 2026. Construction is expected to be completed by the turn of 2028/2029, with the first tenants moving in early 2029. The development will feature climate-smart solutions including solar panels on roofs, cargo bikes for residents to borrow, and green spaces with trees and a natural playground between buildings.
rounded forms on roof domes and entrances are meant to evoke classic railway carriages, referencing the Swedish State Railways' former workshops in the area