Slussen today and tomorrow 

Slussen of today is worn out but yet one of Stockholm’s crucial transportation hubs where hundreds of thousands of people pass each day. Tomorrow’s Slussen will be transformed to meet the needs and demands for the future in order to be:

1. an efficient and safe hub for all: commuters, pedestrians, cyclists, buses, cars, boats etc.
2. an attractive meeting place for the citizens and visitors with parks and water, culture, entertainment, restaurants and cafés
3. a unique, talked-about and must-see part of Stockholm, beautifully situated between Lake Mälaren and the Baltic Sea

The new Slussen, with the ability to release five times as much water into the Baltic Sea, will also ensure Lake Mälaren’s water levels.

Main points in the proposal

Last year 10,000 people visited the public consultation exhibition and more than 1,200 different views were handed in. The final proposal has taken many of these point of views into account. The result is a greener, brighter and more open proposal making use of the unique location by the water.

1. A new park: tomorrow’s Slussen will get a new park to the east of Katarinahissen with panoramic views of Saltsjön and Skeppsholmen. The park will have terraces towards Stadsgårdskajen where boats and ferries can moore.

The new urban park

2. The plaza by the lock: this will be Slussen’s focal point by the actual lock. Pedestrian and cycling lanes will surround the two water basis which make up a plaza of water. This will be a place to enjoy the sun, either on one of the terraces or at a café.

3. Södermalmstorg: this is a place for experiences and meetings between people. The new buildings will have facades in glass in order to facilitate an interaction between the indoors environment and the vibrant square outside.

4. Ryssgården: the square will keep most of its current form but will become a part of passage between Katarinaparken and the water. Important views will be kept.

Ryssgården in tomorrow's Slussen

5. The bus terminal: will be placed inside the Katarina bedrock. A safe and modern hub will be created for commuters from Nacka and Värmdö. The bus terminal will be connected with Saltsjöbanan and the underground, facilitating indoor movement between buses, trains and the underground.

6. New buildings: next to Södermalmstorg two low rising buildings will be built to accommodate restaurants or cultural activities. In front of the KF House and the glass houses which currently exist, new office buildings will be built. The design of these buildings has not yet been decided, only the size of the buildings is illustrated during the exhibition. The ground floors will facilitate public areas such as cafés  and boutiques.

7. More space for: public transport, pedestrians and cyclists as well as boat traffic and personal transportation.

Timeline

The final proposal will be the basis for the design of tomorrow’s Slussen. The proposal is expected to be approved by the City Council later this autumn. Construction is planned to start in 2013 and the new traffic solution is due for completion in 2020. Remaining construction is expected to continue another couple of years.

 Stockholm is growing

Stockholm/Mälardalen is expected to grow by 500,000 inhabitants by 2030. Over one million people will live in the City of Stockholm alone. This rapid growth requires efficient and smart infrastructure solutions, and at the moment 30 such projects are under way in Stockholm where the development of Slussen is one of the most important ones.