‘The Great Church Move’: Sweden’s ambitious relocation project
High above the Arctic Circle, the Swedish mining town of Kiruna is undergoing one of the most dramatic urban relocations in modern history. Decades of iron ore extraction at the LKAB mine have destabilized the ground beneath the city, creating fissures that threaten homes, infrastructure, and cultural landmarks.
To protect residents and preserve heritage, nearly the entire town center—including its iconic church—is being moved several kilometers east in a massive engineering and cultural undertaking. The urban transformation has been underway for the past twenty years, yet now Kiruna is attempting the most ambitious of the relocation projects.
The church, built between 1909 and 1912 and designed by Gustaf Wickman, is considered one of Sweden’s architectural treasures. Its design was influenced by Sami huts and Norwegian stave churches, and the interior features an Art Nouveau altarpiece by Prince Eugen. Voted Sweden’s favorite pre-1950 building in a national poll, it has stood for over a hundred years as a cultural landmark at the heart of Kiruna.
A 672-ton church is embarking on a tw0-day journey to its new location over 5 kilometers away. The move is being carried out at an average speed of just 500 meters per hour. To commemorate the event, Kiruna has launched a live stream and an events-packed schedule for residents and audiences around the world to follow along what they have dubbed “The Great Church Move.”
Watch the video below for a breakdown of how Kiruna is pulling of this unprecedented move after years of preparation.
