Strange Harvest reports on extraordinary proceedings in the Arctic mining town of Kiruna:
"We have to cut it into six pieces. And then we find somewhere to put it for another 100 years," said Karl Wikstrom, a spokesman for the state-owned LKAB iron ore company, in a manner that suggested City Hall dissection was an everyday matter.
Kiruna was established hundred years ago atop a rich iron ore deposit, which developed into the world's largest underground mine. As illustrated above, the town is now in danger of sliding into the cracks created by the very reason for its own existence.
The decision to move parts of the town was made in 2004 and recently the plan how to do it was introduced. In the next 30 years, about 1000 apartments need to be lifted on special trailers and carried onto new grounds.
From the start on, Kiruna was planned with the ideals of a "model community" in the mind. Social planning and architecture were trusted to the foremost experts. One of their innovations was "climate adapted town plan". That means building along the contours the terrain in order to hinder cold winds. I've not been there yet, but reports from the field indicate that it's not a pretty sight. Nevertheless, because of cultural value, hauling a couple of houses over isn't a trivial matter.Wilhelmson Arkitekter were trusted with the relocation plan. They will present the project New Kiruna at the Swedish Museum of Architecture next month. If someone happens to be in Stockholm on 13th February, of course.
Update 29/01/07:
Virgin Galactic and Spaceport Sweden have started a joint venture in Kiruna. It's a part of Richard Branson's effort to open space for tourism. Sub-orbital flights are planned at the moment, with the unique opportunity to fly through the northern lights. -- Via ursa.fi
Posted by Mesq at 7:52 to environment, weird | Trackback
