Commissioned and designed by: City of Malmö
Lead Landscape Architect: Susanna Kapusta
Designer: Mattias Stenberg
Located on the outskirts of Malmö, Holma was a district known mostly for its residential buildings and semi-public courtyards until 2016. That year, the community received its first communal space in the form of a new square—a place designed to feel like everyone’s living room, fostering a sense of togetherness and comfort. Malmö City’s vision was to create an inviting and vibrant space that would always feel welcoming, even when empty.
At the heart of the square, visitors will find “Kaninkärlek” (Rabbit Love), a sculpture by Ann-Katrin Braf featuring three rabbits around a lamp. The artwork symbolises a love of nature and life, inviting both children and adults to touch the rabbits while the lamp casts a warm, welcoming glow over the square in the evening.
The square was furnished with the Plymå bench, chosen for its soft shapes and inviting design, perfectly in line with the vision of creating a space for relaxation and connection. Originally designed for indoor use, Plymå was adapted for this outdoor setting with a concrete seat, an extended frame, and specially designed armrests to enhance accessibility. A prototype bench was placed in the neighbourhood, quickly becoming a favourite spot for people to sit, linger, and connect. This successful trial confirmed that Plymå was an ideal choice for the location.
Inspired by the lively squares of Southern Europe, particularly Barcelona's distinctive triangular plazas, Holma Square combines careful brick and white granite paving with abundant greenery. Trees surround the space, offering shade and a cool respite, while also framing the square beautifully. A community dialogue and prioritised planning led to Holma Square becoming Malmö’s first location to participate in the city’s summer flower program, which further enhanced the area’s appeal.
Despite a limited budget, the project team approached the design with great creativity, successfully delivering a beautiful and inviting square for both residents and visitors. Holma Square went on to become a finalist in the City of Malmö's Urban Planning Prize in 2017.
Products in project