Södervärnstornet is a building in Malmö, Sweden originally built in 1916 to serve as a water tower. The tower is located in the Möllevången neighbourhood where Nobelvägen and Spårvagnsgatan intersect. The building was designed by city architect Salomon Sörensen.[1][2]
| Södervärnstornet | |
|---|---|
 Södervärnstornet in 2006 | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Coordinates | 55°35′16.73″N 13°0′42.26″E / 55.5879806°N 13.0117389°E |
| Completed | 1916 |
| Opened | March 1916 |
| Owner | Malmö Municipality |
| Technical details | |
| Material | Brick (facade) Copper (roof and detailing) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Salomon Sörensen |
Many residents of Malmö use the nickname Kuken, 'The Cock', for the tower, owing to its perceived phallic shape.[3][4][5]
History
editPlanning for the tower began in 1913, as the existing water towers in Pildammarna and Kirseberg were becoming insufficient for the growing city. Connection to the Malmö water network was performed in March 1916. The tower continued to function as a water reservoir until 2015, when local water authority VA Syd deemed it impractical to perform the necessary renovations.[2][1] On 1 July 2018, both Södervärnstornet and the Pildammarna water tower were acquired by Malmö Municipality for a symbolic sum of 1 krona.[6]
Renovations to the copper roof were performed in 2022–2023, with the roof regaining its original copper colour.[3][7]
Malmö Municipality originally planned to sell the tower to private interests, with one plan being to build apartments inside the tower.[4] These plans were put on hold in July 2023, with the city wishing to give the local community the task of finding a new, public use for the tower.[8]
Vandalism
editIn April 1983 the roof of the tower was undergoing repairs, for which scaffolding had been erected. A vandal used this scaffolding to climb the tower, spray painting the words "Mörda Bilar Hata Data" ('Murder Cars Hate Data') on the buildings side.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c Andersson, Martin (27 June 2015). "Vad är ett vattentorn utan vatten?". Sydsvenskan (in Swedish). Retrieved 13 January 2024.
- ^ a b Larsson, Lennart (30 June 2015). "Södervärnstornet torrlagt för gott". Skånska Dagbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 13 January 2024.
- ^ a b Toll, Michael (24 August 2022). "106-årig uppstickare i akut behov av kärlek – plåtslagarnas överraskning". Byggnadsarbetaren (in Swedish). Retrieved 13 January 2024.
- ^ a b Thomasson, Therese (20 November 2022). ""Vi har bara en historisk chans – och den är nu – att bestämma tornets öde"". Sydsvenskan (in Swedish). Retrieved 13 January 2024.
- ^ Kjelldén, Jakob (17 April 2018). "Malmöhuset är smyckat – med över 200 penisar". Kvällsposten (in Swedish). Retrieved 13 January 2024.
- ^ Sandberg, Elisabeth (29 May 2018). "Vattentorn tas över av kommunen". Skånska Dagbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 13 January 2024.
- ^ Nielsen Negrén, Pernilla (11 July 2023). "Koppartaket på plats efter utmanande arbete på kupolen". Skånska Dagbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 13 January 2024.
- ^ Nielsen Negrén, Pernilla (10 July 2023). "Konsthall, museum eller kanske en stor livescen kan bli verklighet". Skånska Dagbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 13 January 2024.