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Oxelösund, Sweden, Europe |
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In the southeast of Sweden lies Oxelösund, the seat of a municipality of the same name in Södermanland County, surrounded by the Baltic Sea with a great archipelago. In 1950, one part of the district of Nikolai Rural municipality became the new town of the City of Oxelösund while the rest of Nikolai dissolved into the neighbouring city of Nyköping. With only 35,75 km2, Oxelösund municipality is one of the smallest municipalities in Sweden while the town itself includes an area of 11,26 km2. The total population is 10,843 inhabitants and the density is 963/km2.
For more than 500 years, the harbour of Oxelösund has been in active use and from the 19th century it became an important transport link of the Swedish mining industry. In 1873 a local railroad company was established and took over most of the peninsula from its former owners of the Stjärnholm Castle. Standing on the three legs of iron works, harbour and railroad, Oxelösund was developed to such a degree that it gained 'City status' as one of the last towns in Sweden by 1950, however, this status has been obsolete since 1971.
In 1959 a general plan was made for an expected population of 14,000 inhabitants by 1965. The plan was made by Jöran Curman, architect and quite of a specialist in housing for small industrial towns. In 1944, he had written the book Industriens Arbetarbostäder (The Workers Housing of the Industry) that had inspired the ABC idea and he was a friend of the functionalist architect Uno ?ɂĶhr?ɬ�n as well as one of the main Social Democratic ideologists Gunnar Myrdal. Closely related to the Social Democratic utopia of Folkshemmet (the peoples home) and principles of the earlier new town of Vällingby, Oxelösund was developed from 1959 -1973 in dialogue with the ABC idea of Arbeta, Bostad, Centrum (work, housing, centre). Hence, 18,000 new dwellings were constructed in less than three years parallel to implementation of new streets, walking and bicycle paths - the car free walking and bicycle paths make up a total extension of 42,2 km. Moreover, a new motorway between Oxelösund and Nyköping and combined school and sports facilities were established. Not only a local project, however, also involving regional and national institutions, the plan also emphasised social meeting places such as playgrounds and swimming pools in the creation of a new, solidary society. In 1976, the environment was changed into a wider service and culture centre. Facilities included library, restaurants, study and leisure facilities in Folkets Hus (the peoples house), a hotel, a department store, shops, and banks.
Oxelösund is still dominated by the steel works company SSAB Oxelösund AB. In 2000 the town celebrated its 50th birthday.
source: Signe Sophie Boeggild |
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2008 - 2024 disclaimer
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