Hyllie Vattentorn (Hyllie Water Tower)

A modern Malmö landmark in Hyllie’s skyline

Hyllie Vattentorn rises above the southern Malmö district of Hyllie like a hovering disc, an unexpected piece of infrastructure turned city icon. Built in 1973 as Malmö’s newest water tower, it was designed by architect Karl Ivar Stål for the engineering firm Kjessler & Mannerstråle. From the train or the surrounding streets, the first impression is its unusual form: a broad, inverted bowl poised on slender supports, hovering above a grassy forecourt. The tower stands about 62 metres high, and because the ground here is already elevated, the reservoir sits more than 20 metres above sea level. That height, along with its clean white surface, makes the structure visible from far across Malmö and even to travellers approaching from Denmark over the Öresund. What began as a purely functional utility has steadily taken on the role of a visual anchor for the entire Hyllie area.

From competition-winning design to flying saucer silhouette

The tower’s distinctive outline is the result of an architectural competition, where the winning proposal, named “Drabant”, aimed to combine engineering efficiency with sculptural form. The wide, saucer-like tank contains around 10,200 cubic metres of water, enough to stabilise pressure for a large part of Malmö and surrounding Skåne. Below, a cluster of supporting shafts channels loads to the ground while leaving the space underneath surprisingly open and airy. Seen up close, the smooth, almost seamless white shell and the minimal detailing underline its 1970s modernist roots. It has been compared to a mushroom, a UFO and a gigantic inverted bowl. At night, carefully placed lighting transforms the tower again: it typically glows blue after dark, but the colour can change for festivals, campaigns or city celebrations, turning the reservoir into a luminous beacon in the sky.

Life around the tower: from lonely field to urban centre

When Hyllie Vattentorn was first completed, it stood almost alone in what was then mostly open farmland south of Malmö. Over the decades, the landscape has changed dramatically. Today the tower is at the core of Hyllievång, a dense new urban district of offices, housing and major venues including Malmö Arena and the Emporia shopping centre. At its base, a modest public park softens the junction between concrete and grass. Trees, paths and seating create a small green pocket in a neighbourhood otherwise defined by roads and large buildings. The juxtaposition of the tower’s bold industrial form with the reflective glass of nearby high-rises and the bustle of the arena area makes this an interesting spot for urban photography and for observing Malmö’s rapid transformation.

Water, engineering and everyday utility

Beyond its dramatic appearance, Hyllie Vattentorn is an essential part of the region’s water system. Operated by the local water utility, the tank works as a giant elevated reservoir, ensuring reliable pressure and capacity for households and businesses in southeastern Skåne. Its location on high ground allows gravity to do much of the work, a classic principle in water-tower engineering. The tank’s large volume provides a buffer during peaks in demand and offers security in case of short-term disruptions in supply. Although visitors cannot currently access the interior or climb to the former viewing level, knowing that the structure above holds thousands of cubic metres of drinking water adds an extra layer of appreciation to its presence in the skyline.

A closed panorama floor with lingering stories

For many locals, the tower also carries memories of times when it was more than a piece of infrastructure. Until the mid-1990s, the “flying saucer” contained a restaurant and panoramic floor at the top, with expansive views across Malmö, the Öresund Strait and, on clear days, to Copenhagen. Later, for about a decade, the interior space hosted educational exhibits about water and the environment. Today, safety measures and fencing protect the structure, and public access is limited to the park and exterior viewpoints. The platforms and interior are no longer open, but the stories of meals, celebrations and school visits high above the city linger in local memory. Standing beneath the overhanging bowl, it is easy to imagine the panorama that once drew people up into the tower.

Experiencing Hyllie Vattentorn today

Visiting Hyllie Vattentorn is primarily about seeing and photographing it in context rather than touring the inside. The best experience comes from walking around its base, looking up at the underside of the tank, and framing the tower against the surrounding arenas, offices and ever-changing skies. Because it sits amid one of Malmö’s most dynamic districts, it pairs easily with shopping, events or a simple stroll through the modern neighbourhood. The tower’s lighting makes evening and twilight particularly atmospheric, while daytime visits highlight the stark contrast between the bright white concrete and the often windy Skåne sky. Modest green space, nearby seating and broad pavements make it an easy short stop where you can pause, look up and consider how a piece of infrastructure became one of Malmö’s most recognisable silhouettes.