Located on a former industrial-use Brownfield site and initially intended as a location for the 2004 Summer Olympics, Hammarby Sjostad is being developed as one of Stockholm’s largest urban development projects. Located on Lake Hammarby Sjo, the waterside environment shaped the project’s infrastructure, planning and design of the buildings into a modern mixed-use urban environment. When completed, Hammarby Sjöstad will include 9,000 apartments for approximately 20,000 residents, with a total build-out of 30,000 for live and work.

The street dimensions, block lengths, building heights, density and usage mix were designed to take advantage of water views, parks and sunlight. Restricted building depths, set backs, balconies and terraces, large glazed areas, and green roofs are just a few features required to meet Hammarby Sjöstad’s environment program to with the aim of focusing on renewable energy, waste reduction, ecological building materials, and alternative transportation options at the planning and implementation phases.

Energy is produced in a renewable fuel-fired district heating plant in the area. In the Henriksdal sewage plant, wastewater is treated, the heat recovered for heating houses and the silt is converted into biogas. The area has an experimental on-site sewage works as well, officially opened in 2003 the plans are to extract nutrients from sewage and wastewater via new technology for use on farmland. Surface water is treated locally to avoid overloading the sewage works. Combustible waste in the area is recycled as heat and food waste is composted into soil.

As part of the drive to create an environment friendly urban area, substantial investments have been made in public transportation to reduce car usage. Apart from the bike lanes, buses and Tvärbanan, the light rail line that forms a central link with four stops along the main boulevard through Hammarby Sjöstad, there is also a ferry plying Lake Hammarby Sjö from early morning till midnight. Moreover, there is also a car pool system available to local residents.

Services to the residents of Hammarby Sjöstad are being progressively developed, with such examples as pre-schools, schools, sheltered housing for the elderly, a health care centre and a doctor’s boat. Commercial services are also developing gradually and the area now boasts a food store, restaurants, cafes, hairdressers, shoe shop, dry cleaners, florist and tailor.

The possibilities to sporting and leisure activities are good in Hammarby Sjöstad. There are mooring points for small boats, and both an indoor and an outdoor sports ground are planned for.

The GlashausEtt serves as the environmental demonstration and learning center for residents and visitors.