The Sweden Democrats in the City of Stockholm want to see a comprehensive transformation of the area around the Radio House and TV House in Gärdet. The party’s group leader in Stockholm, Gabriel Kroon, proposes that Swedish Television (SVT) and Swedish Radio (SR) move their operations to Kista, while the current concrete colossi are demolished to make way for a new residential area built in classical city style.
The proposal to demolish the Radio House and TV House is one of the issues Gabriel Kroon and the Sweden Democrats in Stockholm are pushing ahead of this autumn’s election campaign. The idea is for the area next to the scenic Gärdet to be developed with housing inspired by traditional stone city architecture instead.
“We see no reason for SVT to be located in central Stockholm,” he told Mitt i.
Kroon points out that the land area at Gärdet is substantial and, according to him, well suited for new urban development.
“The area where the SVT and SR buildings stand covers several thousand square meters. It is a very good area for building a new classic stone city.”
Today’s SVT and SR buildings, designed in the Soviet architectural tradition, are seen by many as alien features in the cityscape, looming as large, gray, gloomy concrete colossi in an otherwise attractive area.
According to Kroon, there are also political reasons behind the relocation. He says that the Sweden Democrats want to limit the scope of public service operations. Therefore, there is no need for them to be in the city center.
Kista Pointed Out as New “Media Mecca”
The party’s desire to move the operations specifically to Kista is partly due to the district having many vacant premises and a need for more workplaces.
“It is a major societal problem that insecurity is quite high in the evenings in Kista. When large employers leave Kista it also becomes bad during the day. SVT and SR employees could be role models and move their workplaces there.”
Kroon also believes that a major state establishment could help strengthen Kista’s development in the long term. Several thousand people would be able to work there. Kroon hopes other media companies can be attracted to follow and turn Kista into a “media mecca.”
This Is How SD Wants to Implement the Move
The properties in Gärdet are not owned by the City of Stockholm but by the Swedish National Property Board and Sveriges Radios Förvaltnings AB. Nevertheless, Gabriel Kroon believes the municipality can play an active role in enabling the project.
What he envisions is that the City of Stockholm grants the state land or premises in Kista in exchange for the current area in Östermalm being handed over. The city would then coordinate the process so that the state is allocated land in Kista and subsequently the city would help create a detailed plan for building homes in Gärdet.
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Even though this would involve demolishing fully functional buildings and investing heavily in new premises, he considers the project economically feasible.
“Absolutely. Housing prices in the area are very high and you will definitely get the money back in such an attractive district.”
SVT refuses to comment on the initiative when contacted by Mitt i.
Fact Box: Gabriel Kroon
Gabriel Kroon holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from EU Business School (2017), a master’s degree in international political economy from King’s College London, England (2019), as well as a master’s degree in health economics, policy and management from Karolinska Institutet (2022). He has a professional background that includes real estate transactions.