When the students move in to Troja, one of Sweden’s biggest investments in sustainable student housing will be complete. The new district at Kämnärsrätten is based on the vision that it is possible to create an affordable, attractive and sustainable living environment for Lund’s students that is beneficial for studies, satisfaction and wellbeing, as well as the climate and biodiversity.
At Kämnärsrätten, AF Bostäder is transforming an area of older student housing, partly made up of prefabricated models known as four-leaf clover houses, into a modern campus setting. During the 2010s, a new long-term sustainable district took shape, consisting of six innovative quarters along a connecting pedestrian and cycle path with greenery, areas for activities and places for socialising.
“Proto, Sagoeken, Hippocampus, Pireus and Rhodos are quarters that are already full of student life,” says Martin Jacobsson, Property Development Manager at AF Bostäder. “On the last of the planned sites, Troja is now emerging, our largest area since Sparta was built and also the greenest and most natural.”
Troja consists of two courtyards framed by seven buildings of 3 to 6 stories with a combined living area of 12 000m2. In 2026, when the students move in, the quarter will offer 312 apartments for over 500 students, divided between one-bedroom apartments and apartments for 2 to 3 friends. Many apartments have a balcony, and the larger ones are equipped with a dishwasher.
“With each new quarter at Kämnärsrätten we have tried to surpass ourselves in all aspects of sustainability, from climate impact calculations, energy efficiency improvements, sound material choices and biodiversity to pleasant and health-promoting living environments,” says Martin Jacobsson. “At Troja, the hardscaped areas have given way to wild meadow areas, gravel paths, wood shavings and barbecue places with wooden decks, with the idea of benefitting animals, insects and surface run off. We have also retained many of Kämnärsrätten’s older trees and bushes.”
The level of Troja’s energy consumption is 80% of required limit for new construction, and CO2 emissions for construction are around 170 kilos of carbon dioxide equivalents per gross floor area.
“We achieve these energy values by, among other things, good insulation and plenty of solar cells, while the low emissions are largely due to our use of cast-in-place frameworks,” says Martin Jacobsson. “Using traditional casting moulds and climate-enhanced concrete instead of prefabricated elements, we achieve significantly lower climate values per square metre. The method is unusual and requires both an experienced contractor and thorough planning, because climate-enhanced concrete takes longer to harden.”
In the long term, the expansion at Kämnärsrätten will contribute to a sustainable, stable and balanced student housing market in Lund. The new quarters get the highest rating from the students in, among other things, matters relating to security and wellbeing. At the same time, the quarters are well-integrated into the cityscape not least due to Campuskilen, the green thoroughfare that links central campus areas with the new districts in north-east Lund.
“The expansion has entailed the divestment and acquisition of properties as well as demolition and new construction. When Troja is completed, we will have 1 200 new housing units and increased our portfolio by a total of 500 housing units. We have modernised and enhanced our offering, reduced our energy consumption, lowered our maintenance costs, strengthened our financial position and acquired extensive experience for future investments in sustainable housing – all for the benefit of Lund’s students,” says Martin Jacobsson.
Latest update July 16, 2026