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#COMMERCIAL ARCHITECTURE PROJECTS

white builds an architecture office for kiruna as the city plans for relocation

as a result of continuous iron ore extraction on the western border of kiruna, deformation and subsidence effects mean that the entire swedish city must relocate. the huge transformational project is being masterplanned by white arkitekter and will see the region shift three kilometers eastwards (1.86 miles) by 2033, as one part of a long-term 100-year strategy.

named ‘ett arkitekt kontor’, kiruna’s recently completed architecture studio is a platform for white to engage the community as the city is replanned. occupying a vacant plot in kiruna’s current city center, furniture and other materials have been collated and reused to construct an interior imbued with a local sense of identity.

‘moving the city is a huge challenge, and one that provokes both anxiety and anticipation among the local citizens‘, explain the architects. ‘as well as its function as a workspace, the new studio will act as a community center, welcoming the public for informal coffee mornings, hosting events and exhibitions.’a key strategy in the masterplan is the ambition to recycle, rebuild and reclaim building materials from the former city in a facility called ‘the portal’. the scheme’s interior showcases different methods of upcycling as well as reducing material consumption. consequently, this allows for the preservation of identifiable artifacts from the city that would have otherwise been lost.

the assemblage of objects that make up the interior span a range styles with a historical legacy that intrinsically links the studio with the emerging character of the new city. objects that have been locally sourced or donated by residents, including furniture and housewares, have been retrofitted with new elements to alter or improve their functionality. this hands-on approach allows the studio to evolve over time, continually accommodating its users’ needs.

ett arkitekt kontor: kiruna desk timelapse

Details

  • Arent Grapegatan 27, 981 32 Kiruna, Sweden
  • white arkitekter