From the Hum of Industry to a Home in the Green

A hundred years ago, steam from the machines hung thick over the sugar refinery. Wagonloads of freshly harvested sugar beets rolled in, ready to be washed, boiled, and refined. The area was alive with movement, scents, and sounds — a pulsing operation that sustained the entire community.

Today, the pace is different. What is now known as Bruksparken has become home to people seeking a modern, comfortable, and peaceful way of life, with cultural heritage and parkland close at hand.

The beautiful old industrial building rises above the surrounding landscape, flanked by more modern homes clad in the same warm brick — a material choice that gently ties the new to the area’s history. Set among open fields and meadows, a setting takes shape with a classic village feel, leafy local streets, and close proximity to both the sea and urban life.

A proud heritage, carefully carried forward

The sugar refineries are an important part of Skåne’s history. They were major employers that shaped everyday life and living conditions for many people. For the sugar refinery in Hököpinge, its role as an industrial operation ended long ago. When HSB took over the development of the area 20 years ago, the ambition was clear: to continue with careful, considerate development and allow the history of the place to live on in the new buildings.

In 2011, HSB completed the so‑called Fabrikshusen — nine terraced houses that unite Skåne’s brick‑building tradition with modern construction techniques. The thoughtful attention to detail and respect for the area’s heritage contributed to the Fabrikshusen being awarded the Vellinge Municipality Urban Design Prize.

After a few years’ pause, 54 apartments were built in 2016 within the housing cooperative Rosenhyddan, followed by the renovation of the listed historic building Betladan the year after. The most recent projects are the rental properties Parkhusen and the housing cooperative Sockerpärlan, completed in 2023.

Reuse — for both character and climate

In many ways, Bruksparken is a unique development project. Here, industrial history, cultural heritage, and sustainable housing come together in a way that is difficult to replicate elsewhere. Respect for the area’s character and history — combined with a strong focus on reuse and environmental responsibility — has been a guiding principle throughout the entire project.

A very large number of bricks have been salvaged from the old buildings. Some are being reused in artistic installations, while others are being preserved for future construction. Enduring building elements such as steel beams, cobblestones, and reinforcing mesh have also been retained and given new purpose — most notably in the many outdoor spaces, which carry a distinct industrial feel where hard surfaces meet soft greenery.

Long‑term challenges

Working in an environment that must both be preserved and sustainably developed has been a challenge — a careful balancing act requiring technical and architectural precision. Another crucial aspect is time. Developing a project over more than 20 years demands both endurance and a clear, overarching vision.

The oldest awaits its turn

The transformation of the former sugar refinery area is now approaching its final stages. Next in line are the housing cooperatives Magasinet 1 and 2, comprising a total of 80 apartments. After that, only one — but no less honourable — task remains: transforming the last remaining sugar refinery building.

The old factory from 1892 will be renovated and adapted to meet today’s high standards for modern living, without losing its distinctive industrial character. As with the other buildings, original elements will be preserved and incorporated into the new. An old heritage meets new life — both emotionally and in the smallest details.

A natural place for a good life

The area has been inhabited since time immemorial — and it is easy to understand why people continue to be drawn here to build their lives in the fertile Skåne landscape, where sky meets sea. In Bruksparken, everything needed for a harmonious, active family life and an easy everyday rhythm is close at hand.

Here, history and future meet. And while the old sugar works are no longer what they once were, they are still present. The transformation does not erase the past — it allows it to live on.