Exploring Everyday Streets
Chapter 10:
Kiruna, lost and found: identity and memory in the streetspace of an Arctic town
Maria Luna Nobile
Kiruna is a Swedish mining town that is currently on the move; the new town is being constructed, while the centre of its initial settlement is being demolished. Its mesh of streets is an expression of the town’s unique culture, way of life and Arctic climate. The town’s relocation presents an intriguing question: Is it possible to retain the relationships developed between the town’s inhabitants and streets over the course of a century while moving the town? This chapter reflects on the relocation of Kiruna by exploring the spatial and temporal conditions of the existing town and considering the plans for its new form. It offers some reflections for the designers behind the new Kiruna.
About Maria Luna Nobile
Maria Luna Nobile is Associate Professor in Architectural and Urban Design at Umeå University, Sweden. A PhD architect in the same field, her research focuses on the design of the contemporary city, with special attention to local urban regeneration policies, interdisciplinary and innovative practices between art and architecture, and the urban commons.