Svenskehusene at Ellebjerg Station

Facts

From refugee shelter to housing cooperative

By Inger Wiene, 1979: Bygningssnedker 1992: Mag.art. i europæisk etnologi (6 stories)

Svenskehusene - 86 red timber bungalows – are just across from Ellebjerg Station. These are former municipal barracks for the homeless, which were built in 1947. The buildings themselves are Swedish made and were originally used to house German refugees on Kløvermarken. When the railway was built along Køge bay, it cut right through the estate leaving 14 houses on Følager cut off from the others on Ellestykket and Pilestykket. There are two similar but smaller developments near Lykkebovej and Kulbanevej. Today, Svenskehusene is a housing cooperative.

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Life on the road

Story written by Inger Wiene

Time / Periode 1947 2009

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Facing Svenskehusene, on the opposite side of Ellebjergvej, Blushøjlejren was the winter home of 60-80 travelling families and their residential caravans between 1948 and 1965. These travellers hit the highways in summer and worked as knife grinders, buskers and ran small fun fairs, circuses, etc. In 1965, the camp was closed and some of the travellers were rehoused in Svenskehusene. Many of them liked the idea because they could carry on living their free lives and still remain close to their families. The free working life of the travelling fun fairs has largely been replaced by self-employment in trades such as roofing.