planning and architecture of Vällingby was influenced by ideas from North America-notably Clarence Stein's 'Radburn Idea'-and the New Towns in the United Kingdom. In turn, Vällingby become a much discussed and influential model of suburban development in different parts of the world. The original plan for the area was designed by architect Sven Markelius (1889–1972) city planning director in Stockholm, who placed high-rise buildings near the metro stations with peripheral self-contained houses and green areas around it. While the Social Democrats are widely acknowledged for the realisation of Vällingby, other political parties and, not the least, private entrepreneurs actively took part in the planning process. In 1955, the master plan drawn up by Sven Markelius for Farsta in Söderort was also adopted. However, the ABC City failed to work as intended as most people found work elsewhere. Nevertheless, Vällingby remains one of the most popular suburbs of Stockholm with a cultural significance unsurpassed by later suburbs built as part of the so-called Million Programme during the 1960s and 1970s, such as Skärholmen and Tensta, where less efforts were spent on cultural and social infrastructure. Renovation Beginning in the late 1980s, a plan to renovate the main centre of Vällingby was discussed. In 2001, a plan was accepted by the local political powers. The major redevelopment of the centre was finished and inaugurated officially in April 2008. Notable natives Olof Palme - Prime Minister of Sweden 1969 to 1976 and 1982 to 1986. Toomas Hendrik Ilves - President of Estonia 2006 to 2016. John Ausonius - the Laser Man killer. Benny Andersson - composer, pianist and ABBA-member. Darin (singer). Kenta (musician). Quorthon - musician of the extreme metal band Bathory (band) Bill Skarsgård - actor born August 9, 1990. Alexander Skarsgård - actor from HBO TV series True Blood and Big Little Lies. Dejan Kulusevski - Juventus football player. See also Hässelby-Vällingby Vinstagårdsskolan Notes Other sources David Pass (1969) Vällingby and Farsta--from idea to reality: The suburban development process in a large Swedish city (Statens institut for byggnadsförskning) External links The Urban Order of the North a 1972 analysis of the city by Leonard Downie Jr funded by the Alicia Patterson Foundation Vällingby: a post-war model of suburbia and its international admirers – Research on the planning of Vällingby and its influences. Districts in Västerort Metropolitan Stockholm Urban planning in Sweden