Kista is undergoing one of the largest urban development projects in the Nordics, where much has already happened, and much more is underway. With an attractive and vibrant city center, green residential areas, commercial initiatives, and new creative meeting places, Kista is evolving into a place where people, businesses, and ideas come together and grow. During Open House 2024 in Kista, you’ll have the opportunity to join an exciting walk and gain insight into what has happened, what is happening, and what will happen in this next-generation district.
During Open House Stockholm, the public is invited for a weekend to explore exciting buildings and places, and participate in free guided tours of the Stockholm area’s most unique and fascinating sites. The festival aims to engage the public in the city's development and stimulate interest in architecture and urban planning.
With investments exceeding 20 billion SEK, 8,000 new homes, and thousands of jobs, Kista is being transformed into a forward-thinking mixed-use urban area. Sustainability, innovation, and community are key pillars in shaping an urban environment that promotes both growth and cohesion.
With so much happening, it’s easy to become overwhelmed, so take the opportunity during Open House 2024 on 6 October to explore Kista’s development up close. Join us for a walk with four exciting stops and experience both what has already been realized and what lies just around the corner.
Here’s the route for the walk:
The walk starts on the 25th floor of Kista’s most iconic landmark – Kista Science Tower. Here, a representative from the City of Stockholm will share the immense transformation and vision of a vibrant and inspiring district.
We’ll then take the elevator down and walk a few hundred meters to Kista Square Garden. Originally built as Ericsson’s office in 1985, the building is now facing a completely new future. Ranked as Stockholm's hottest construction project, the 56,000 square meters will be transformed from office spaces into a lively residential block with six floors, featuring creative meeting spaces, a green courtyard, and a rooftop terrace with views over Kista. Wow.
Kista is set to become a district that’s alive around the clock, and the next stop on the walk shows the way forward. At nordicForum on Borgarfjord 2, 9,000 square meters of office space is being transformed into a state-of-the-art hotel with 201 rooms, a pool, spa, gym, restaurant, bar, and conference facilities. The light rail will also soon connect here. Solar panels are being installed on the roof, and the building has already been certified with the sustainability standard BREEAM in Use – Very Good. Sustainable, vibrant, and modern – just the way we like it!
We’ll then head down the new stairs connecting nordicForum with Grönlandsgången. Following the green path north, we’ll reach Kista Äng, the largest residential development area in Kista. At the Hestur and Valvik blocks, we’ll stop to visit a student apartment – a three-room apartment designed for two people to live comfortably on equal terms. This area will soon accommodate 472 student and rental homes, as well as a student lounge, café, grocery store, and restaurant. The future entrepreneurs and workers are in good hands.
After gaining insight into student life, we’ll move on to Kista Parkstad and the iconic building Ormen Långe, which was previously IBM’s headquarters. It now stands vacant but is being redeveloped into housing, a hotel, and a preschool. Behind the red brick façade are preserved 1970s features, such as patterned limestone floors and custom-designed lighting fixtures by Carl Nyrén.
Just outside, nature awaits, and trees in the adjacent forest have been preserved as close to the building as possible. An exciting contrast and unique feeling that can only be experienced in person. Here, Kista Parkstad is being planned, where 1,500 homes will be built, aimed at integrating nature into the urban landscape. The vision is to create a place where nature is ever-present, with trees and plants harmonising with the buildings while preserving significant cultural historical values. A beautiful spot that reminds us of nature’s grandeur.
This is where the walk through Kista ends, and we have both experienced and sensed Kista’s past, present grandeur, and the exciting future just around the corner.
OPEN HOUSE 2024
When?
Sunday, 6 October
Schedule:
Kista Science Tower, 13:00 – 13:25 / Kista Square Garden, 13:30 – 14:00 / Borgafjord 2 (Voco Hotel), 14:10 – 14:25 / Hestur and Valvik Blocks (Kista Äng), 14:35 – 14:55 PM / Ormen Långe (Kista Parkstad), 15:05 – 15:25 PM
Where?
Färögatan 33, Kista, Sweden
Open House 2024 takes place throughout the Stockholm area from 4–6 October. So, take the opportunity to visit other exciting development areas as well.