Svarta villan
Svarta villan is located in Campus Frescati with the Swedish Museum of Natural History as its closest neighbor and a few-minute walk to both Lake Brunnsviken and the subway. The apartments are rented to international guest researchers and doctoral students.
Svarta villan was built in 1914 and has been carefully renovated to preserve its historical interior architecture and is classified by the state as having high cultural value. In order to preserve the building, specific rules specified in rent contract, are required to be accepted by tenant.
History of the Svarta villorna
This cottage is one of two buildings known as Svarta villorna (the Black Villas). They were built in 1914 as residences for the caretakers of the Swedish Museum of Natural History. While the other museum buildings were constructed in brick, the caretakers’ houses were made of wood.
The design, by architect Axel Anderberg, reflects the villa style typical of exclusive residential areas at the time, although the interiors were much simpler. Each villa originally contained four two-room flats, each with a kitchen and WC, to house caretakers and their families. Laundry and bathing were carried out in the Gatekeeper’s House (Portvaktshuset), located approximately 300 metres south of the villas.
The villas were initially heated with traditional Swedish tiled stoves, and meals were prepared on wood-burning stoves. Each apartment had its own food and wood cellar. In front of the houses were kitchen gardens, where potatoes, vegetables and fruit were grown. The old fruit trees still remain today.
The buildings are still owned and used by the Swedish Museum of Natural History. A few of the flats are rented out to international guest researchers, while others serve as offices for museum staff.
Apartment types and sizes
- Three two-bedroom apartments.
- In each of the three apartments there are two separate bedrooms, kitchen and bathroom.
- Two of the apartments have a separate living room.
Rent
The rent is monthly SEK 10,600–12,900.
Furniture and equipment
Each apartment is furnished with a master bed and bunkbed, wardrobe, desk, chair, sofa and armchair. The kitchen has a refrigerator, freezer, stove, oven and microwave, dinnerware and cooking utensils. Please note that you need to bring your own blanket, pillow, sheets, towels and cleaning supplies.
Photos
Living at Svarta villan
Internet
A router is activated in each apartment. Information about how to connect to wi-fi is available on the router.
Laundry
Laundry room is placed in the basement. Book laundry slot on the calendar in the laundry room.
Parking
General information about staff parking
Bikes may be parked in designated area.
Postbox
A postbox is placed on the front door, tagged with tenant’s name.
Recycling
Recycling Bins for household waste is found outside the building. Food waste is separated from the other waste, disposed in paper bags and thrown in the brown bin. More paper bags are found in the basement/laundry room. The closest recycle station for other type of waste is located at Ekhagsvägen 2.
Contact
If you have any questions regarding accommodation, please send an e-mail to the Housing Office.
Last updated: June 11, 2025
Source: housingoffice@su.se
