New exhibition and virtual vernissage: Kiruna Forever

The new city hall pulls the next phases of Kiruna’s bold move eastwards as if by a magnet. Credit: Photo by Hufton + Crown, Courtesy of Henning Larsen (2018)

Kiruna Forever - exhibition and virtual vernissage.

2 June 2020 - 7 February 2021.

Kiruna – a city in the northernmost part of Sweden – is experiencing one of the biggest urban transformation projects in recent history. The city centre is being relocated three kilometres northeast due to the extension of the iron ore mine around which Kiruna was built. A third of the city 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?

For interviews, pressinfo and catalogue please contact: maria.ostman@arkdes.se

ArkDes is excited to invite you to the virtual vernissage of 'Kiruna Forever' in 360°– an exhibition about one of the biggest urban transformation projects in recent history. Tune in from 12.00 CEST on June 1st.

🌐 Where: https://www.dezeen.com/vdf/arkdes/
🕔 When: June 1, 12.00 CEST
🎧 Language: English & Swedish

At this virtual vernissage, broadcast live from ArkDes in Stockholm and presented in collaboration with Dezeen Design Festival, we'll investigate how to move a city together with some of our collaborating artist.

Kiruna Forever examines the current relocation of the city exhibiting over 100 works by architects, urban planners and artists who have transformed the community and addressed the challenges that have shaped the region – from the first industrial development and onward into the future.

Architects and artists include: Iwan Baan, Anne Dessing and Michiel van Iersel; Design Earth, Henning Larsen, Ingela Johansson, Britta Marakatt-Labba, Joar Nango, New Mineral Collective, Outi Pieski, Sandellsandberg Architects, Studio Folder, Territorial Agency, Anja Örn, Tomas Örn, and Fanny Carinasdotter; Liselotte Wajstedt, White Arkitekter with Ghilardi+Hellsten Arkitekter, and more.

Including original works by Hakon Ahlberg, Ralph Erskine, Per Olof Hallman, Örjan Lüning. Helmer Osslund, Artur von Schmalensee, Nils Nilsson Skum, Axel Törneman, Gustaf Wickman, Carl Wilhelmson, and more.  

Putting the relocation of Kiruna into a historical and geographical context, the exhibition reflects on the big questions that such a complex project provokes. What is the limit of our 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 the relocation affect the lives of the Indigenous population, the Sámi? How permanent are the cities we live in?

The exhibition includes interviews with Kiruna residents, a 1:1 scale replica of the recently demolished Kiruna City Hall, and original drawings and models from the ArkDes collections.

Discover ArkDes new book ‘Kiruna Forever’
ArkDes is pleased to present the catalogue of Kiruna Forever.
Edited by Daniel Golling and Carlos Mínguez Carrasco
Graphic Design by Magdalena Czarnecki
Language: Swedish and English

More info about the book for 349 sek in Arkitektur Förlags’ online store.

Cred: Jessica Nildén, The pic was taken on 2017-08-31 when the house was moved. Building: Ingenjörsvillan. I

The exhibition is produced by ArkDes, the Swedish Centre for Architecture and Design. There is a parallel exhibition at Konstmuseet i Norr, Norrbotten’s new County Art Museum, located in Kiruna. Some of the works have jointly been specially commissioned and are on show simultaneously at both venues.

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