{"id":45912,"date":"2015-01-12T10:53:27","date_gmt":"2015-01-12T09:53:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/subtopia.se\/about-subtopia\/history\/"},"modified":"2026-07-21T13:56:06","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T11:56:06","slug":"history","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/subtopia.se\/en\/about-subtopia\/history\/","title":{"rendered":"History"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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History<\/h1><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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From a then-hypermodern barn built by one of the 19th century\u2019s foremost entrepreneurial couple to a production site for creators and entrepreneurs in completely different industries. The story of our place begins in a spirit of innovation and experimentation, a tradition we carry forward.
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Hilda and Lars Magnus Ericsson<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In 1895, the couple Hilda and Lars Magnus Ericsson bought Alby G\u00e5rd, which is located a stone\u2019s throw from Subtopia, where they moved a few years later. Together they had built up a telephone company that is still one of the world\u2019s largest telecom companies today. Within just over ten years, Ericsson went from being a small workshop of 13 square meters to having 700 employees, with most of the production going to export.
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Lars Magnus Ericsson is known as an enterprising entrepreneur and innovator who created his company from nothing. Public documents from that time do not show much of Hilda\u2019s contribution to the company, but through the couple\u2019s extensive correspondence and Hilda\u2019s diaries, one understands that she was an important part. Hilda had studied longer than her husband and took responsibility for the accounting. Together, the couple discussed how the company should be managed and developed, and Hilda was a partner in tests and experiments. In the beginning, Hilda was also responsible for customer contacts and she was the supervisor of the female staff. Later, when her husband was away on long business trips, it was Hilda who managed the company in his absence.
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Hilda and Lars-Magnus Ericsson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Pattern Agriculture<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In 1900, Lars Magnus sold his shares in Ericsson. The couple\u2019s new project became a modern model farm and in 1902 the buildings that are Subtopia today were completed. The vision was to improve Swedish agriculture with new technology in harmony with nature. In 1906, they also bought H\u00e5gelbyg\u00e5rd, which is today H\u00e5gelbyparken<\/a> and part of the same company as Subtopia. Lars Magnus spent a lot of time at the drawing board while Hilda managed the farms and made sure that the finances came together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The original function of the buildings is noticeable in several ways. Instead of elevators, the barn was built in the basement so that each floor of Subtopia\u2019s main building had an entrance from the ground level. Can you guess what Subtopia\u2019s premises, the Loft, was used for? Hay was stored for the cows that were in what is now a restaurant. But hay wasn\u2019t the only thing the cows were allowed to eat. They also experimented with other foods, such as sunflower and peanut cakes. White sheer curtains hung over the windows to ensure even light all year round. This way, the milking would also be even. Lars Magnus was an innovative man who experimented to find solutions, and from that perspective, the spirit of the place has not changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Subtopia\u2019s restaurant 100 years ago<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Small Industries and Decay<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Hilda and Lars Magnus let their son take over the farm, which was later sold on and was active until the mid 50\u2019s. After that, the area consisted of small industries and there have also been rumors of underground clubs, but this is not something we can verify. Eventually, however, the place fell into disrepair and in the early 90\u2019s it was so run down that Botkyrka municipality bought the house for one swedish krona. They realized the value of the old buildings and chose to renovate. Read the article about the background to the creation of Subtopia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photografer Ebbe Palm, Entreprenad och projektledning AB<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Culture Takes Place<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The state and Botkyrka municipality invested in a Circus Hall and in the late 90s Cirkus Cirk\u00f6r moved to the area. In 2002 the old barn was renovated and Kulturhuset Rotemannen was inaugurated. At that time there were seven associations here. Read the article about the development of the cultural center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2005, Kulturhuset Rotemannen became Subtopia and at the same time the municipal limited liability company Upplev Botkyrka AB was formed, of which Subtopia is a part, together with Lida Friluftsg\u00e5rd and H\u00e5gelbyparken. Read the article about why Upplev Botkyrka was created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The performance Breaking Point in the Loft. Photo Bj\u00f6rn Babba Callius<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Fast Expansion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In the years since the inauguration, Subtopia has expanded and now we also include Hangaren, a former construction warehouse beautifully located by Albysj\u00f6n, Gula Villan which was built as a summer house for Hilda and Lars Magnus\u2019 son, and several properties around. Read the article about Hangaren. 23 organizations have their base with us and around 200 people come here to work and study every day. It\u2019s not just crops that grow here anymore, but many forms of creativity and culture are born and thrive at Subtopia! Read the article about the cluster of cultural companies that are located in Subtopia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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References:
Historiska Alby \u2013 dramatik, romantik och teknik, by Martin Ros\u00e9n.
Entrepren\u00f6rerna: Hilda Ericsson.<\/a> Utbildningsradion, Sveriges Radio.
Svenskt kvinnobiografiskt lexikon.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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