Möllevångsgården

In the southern part of Malmö, a mansion-like building known as "Lugnet" or "Tranquility in Möllevången" was constructed by Frans Suell, a name synonymous with the city's growth and development.
Frans Suell Jr. (1744-1817), a successful merchant and entrepreneur in Malmö, is best known today for his role in the development of Malmö's harbor, where his statue stands. But Suell was a man of many interests. He managed agriculture on two farms outside Malmö, Annetorp and Möllevången, both of which have since lent their names to city districts.
Starting in 1788, Suell began purchasing land south of Malmö, where he built a two-story mansion-like building. Though the house has undergone many stylistic additions and changes, it still stands today. Above the main entrance, a stone tablet reads: "Merchant Frans Suell and his wife Anna Catharina af Trolle have built this house in the year 1796."
Known as Möllevångsgården, or "Lugnet," this building served as Suell's summer residence and was quite substantial in size. The ground floor housed eight rooms, an entrance hall, pantry, and bakery, while the upper floor contained a grand hall, seven rooms, an entrance hall, and a kitchen. Each room was named after the color of its furnishings or wallpaper, all of which were luxuriously adorned with paper wallpaper, a high-end feature for the time. The furnishings, decor, and equipment were all of high quality, and the stables housed beautiful horses and impressive carriages and farming tools.
Suell also designed an English-style park around the estate, which became a popular walking spot not only for his family but also for the people of Malmö. The park contained several pavilions, one of which, the hunting pavilion, still stands in the present-day Folkets Park. What was once Suell's summer garden later became the country's first public park.
Four years after Suell's death, his widow sold Möllevångsgården to her son-in-law, merchant Lorens Kockum. The estate, known as Lugnet, went through various changes of hands and purposes. From 1836 to 1845, it served as a health spa when Malmö Brunnsinrättning operated there. Today, the main building, or corps de logis, still stands at Barkgatan, housing office activities. The English park, covering six acres, was taken over in 1891 by the Malmö Social Democratic Association.
Möllevångsgården stands as a testament to a time of growth and cultural richness in Malmö, reflecting the vision of one of the city's most influential figures. Its legacy continues to be a part of the city's vibrant history.