Kiruna Forever

ArkDes, the Swedish Centre for Architecture and Design, is excited to invite you to the virtual vernissage of Kiruna Forever, an exhibition that explores the relocation of the Swedish arctic city of Kiruna. Tune in to Dezeen’s Virtual Design Festival at noon CEST on June 1, 2020 for a 360° guided experience of the exhibition and a selection of the works on display. ArkDes will open to the public from June 2, 2020. 

Kiruna is experiencing one of the biggest urban transformation projects in recent history. The city is being relocated by three kilometres due to the expansion of a mine, around which Kiruna was built. A third of the population must relocate, housing blocks and landmark buildings are being demolished or moved, and a new city is taking shape. But how do you move a city?

The exhibition
Kiruna Forever examines the ongoing relocation of the city of Kiruna. It features over a hundred works by architects, urban planners and artists who have transformed the community and addressed the challenges facing the the region from the first industrial settlements, today, and into the future.

Putting the relocation of Kiruna into a historical and geographical context, the exhibition reflects on the questions that such a complex project raises. What is the limit of natural resources? What happens to residents’ identity and security when their homes are demolished?  How do we decide whether cultural heritage should be preserved or sacrificed? How does a relocation of this scale affect the lives of the Indigenous population: the Sámi? Ultimately, how permanent are the cities that we live in?

The exhibition includes a full-scale reconstruction of Kiruna City Hall, demolished in 2019, as well as a large scale model animated by Studio Folder. In parallel to the exhibition at ArkDes is an exhibition at Konstmuseet i Norr, Norrbotten’s new county art museum, located in Kiruna. Some works have been jointly commissioned and are on display simultaneously in Stockholm and Kiruna.

Contributing architects and artists
Lara Almarcegui, Agneta Andersson, Iwan Baan, Anne Dessing and Michiel van Iersel; Per Bifrost and Alexander Rynéus; Fanny Carinasdotter, Anja Örn and Tomas Örn; Design Earth, Henning Larsen Architects, Erik Lefvander, Ingela Johansson, Kjellander Sjöberg, Hanna Ljungh, Åke Jönsson, Britta Marakatt-Labba, Hans Ragnar Mathisen, Murman Arkitekter, Emil Myrsell, Joar Nango, New Mineral Collective, Outi Pieski, Sandellsandberg Arkitekter, Adolf Sotoca and Mar Esteve; Lena Stenberg, Studio Folder, Territorial Agency, Klaus Thymann, Tirsén & Aili Arkitekter, Liselotte Wajstedt, Wilhelmson Arkitekter, White Arkitekter with Ghilardi+Hellsten Arkitekter and Spacecape

Original material by:
Hakon Ahlberg, Rolf Dahlström, Sverre Erixson, Esaias Hackzell, Per Olof Hallman, Ralph Erskine, Hjalmar Lundbohm, Örjan Lüning, Kristina Negga-Wallström, Barbro Nilsson, Helmer Osslund, Börje Rönnberg, Artur von Schmalensee, Nils Nilsson Skum, students at Kiruna Praktiska Ungdomsskola (KPU), Axel Törneman, Gustaf Wickman, Carl Wilhelmson

Catalogue: Kiruna Forever
A catalogue accompanies the exhibition and features contributions by: Ylva Frid, Mats Jonsson, Ann-Helén Laestadius, Elisa Maria López, Erik Niva, Ann Maudsley, Stina Oscarson, Jennie Sjöholm, Adolf Sotoca, David Väyrynen, White Arkitekter and Ghilardi+Hellsten Arkitekter, May-Britt Öhman. 

Curator: Carlos Mínguez Carrasco
Assistant Curator: Sujy Lee
Exhibition Producer: Johanna Fogel
Exhibition Design: Pernilla Ohrstedt
Graphic Design: Magdalena Czarnecki

Director of ArkDes: Kieran Long

Project team (ArkDes): Mia Bengtsson, Markus Eberle, Daniel Golling, Justina Hüll, Jakob Kjellberg, Lena Landerberg, Frida Melin, Stefan Mossfeldt, Sandra Nolgren, Elisabet Schön, James Taylor-Foster, Lena Biörnstad Wranne, Maria Östman
Editors (catalogue): Daniel Golling, Carlos Mínguez Carrasco
Project team (Konstmuseet i Norr): Selma Green, Victoria Harnesk, Elin Ranestål and Maria Ragnestam during the early stages of the project
Parts of the exhibition have been created in collaboration with Kiruna Kommun: Malin Rolund, Clara Nyström, Rasmus Norling, Mats Spett, Åsa Andersson-Junkka, Åke Jönsson, Ulrika Isaksson