GlashusEtt

For twenty years, the cube-shaped building named GlashusEtt functioned as an environmental information center, welcoming both residents of the area and international visitors. After standing empty for a period, the building was given new life when ElectriCITY Innovation stepped in with the vision of developing a citizen-driven house for sustainability.

BACKGROUND
There have long been plans to start a community house/multi-activity house in Hammarby Sjöstad, but there was a lack of space and funding. In December 2022, ElectriCITY Innovation was given the opportunity to rent GlashusEtt for its own use, as well as for other local associations, two days a week and one weekend per month to create public activities for the residents of Hammarby Sjöstad.

GOALS AND PURPOSE
The goal of the activities in GlashusEtt has been to offer the citizens of Hammarby Sjöstad an accessible arena for citizen-driven sustainability issues. The overarching theme has been circular economy, sustainability, and how we can live as climate-smart as possible.

IMPLEMENTATION
ElectriCITY’s program in GlashusEtt has included a study circle around living sustainably, lectures and seminars around various sustainability issues based on ongoing projects and themes. It has been about, among other things: the Energy Community in Hammarby Sjöstad, urban farming, Hammarby Sjöstad as an environmental district, disruptive innovation, plastic as a resource, reduced food waste and the importance of recycling your wardrobe.

In collaboration with the Naturskyddsföreningen (Nature Protection Association’s)  “Shop environmentally friendly group”, the Hemslöjdsföreningen i Stockholm (Home Crafts Association in Stockholm) and the Naturkompaniet, we have arranged much-appreciated clothing exchange days. Together with producers operating in the nearby Reko-rings, a number of food markets have been arranged in GlashusEtt, where the residents of Hammarby Sjöstad have had the opportunity to shop and get to know local food producers.

RESULTS
The activities in GlashusEtt have generally been well attended. The large public events such as clothing exchange days and food markets have had several hundred visitors. And the reactions from the residents of  Hammarby Sjöstad have been positive.

Stockholm Vatten och Avlopp (Stockholm Water and Waste), which owns GlashusEtt, has been uncertain about the future of the building, and in May 2024 ElectriCITY’s contract expired. In the near future, smaller events such as lectures and workshops will be arranged at Unity in Hammarby Sjöstad, but the 18 months that ElectriCITY has had access to GlashusEtt shows the need for a multi-activity center in Hammarby Sjöstad and the work to realize this continues.