Human impact on the planet is forcing Sweden to relocate the town of Kiruna. The urban planners and architects behind the project say the biggest challenge isn't moving the buildings, it's bringing the community with them.
Sweden's northernmost town and its 18,000 inhabitants are moving two miles east, to prevent being slowly being swallowed by an underground mine.
The mining company, Luossavaara-Kiirunavaara (LKAB), and its owner, the Swedish government, are moving over 20 significant buildings from the old town of Kiruna to the new location, including its church, which was voted Sweden's most beautiful building. Each one is being completed dismantled and reconstructed.
The rest of the town is being built from scratch, with new buildings including a town hall designed by Scandinavian firm Henning Larsen. The Henning Larsen-designed town hall will anchor the new town. Photo is by Peter Rosén
While physically moving the entire town is a complex, expensive and ? at the moment ? unique challenge, relocating the community is proving the harder task.
"The challenge for the city is not only about moving an entire city, but also moving the minds of citizens and creating a new home and identity," said the Henning Larsen team. "The opening of the city hall marks the beginning of the moving process and the opportunity for creating a new social identity for the city."
"Handling history and identity is the tricky part"
The key challenge for the ar...