The town of Kiruna, Sweden has a unique problem – it has to move.
The town of Kiruna, Sweden has a unique problem – it has to move.
This spring, efforts will begin to build a new town center and housing two miles away from its current location.
Several years ago the area mine, which is the town’s lifeblood, had to begin digging into the rock on the outskirts of town.
At the time they warned that the necessary measure could damage the land above it to the point of being uninhabitable.
Now, that prediction has started to become a reality and people, businesses, and community service buildings need to relocate.
Most structures will be built from scratch, but one will be moved brick by brick and plank by plank.
It’s an old church that in 2001 was voted Sweden’s most beautiful building.
New construction is planned to include 3 thousand houses and apartments, about 2 million square feet of office space, a hospital and a school.
Major funding for the endeavor is coming from the company that owns and runs the mine.
They’ve already paid out over 525 million dollars and have earmarked an additional billion for future expenses.
The new town is anticipated to be complete in 2033.
