{"id":3402,"date":"2022-09-01T09:17:57","date_gmt":"2022-09-01T07:17:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wester-elsner.se\/nu-invigs-kirunas-nya-centrum-westerelsner-arkitekter-ar-pa-plats"},"modified":"2023-02-03T14:51:20","modified_gmt":"2023-02-03T13:51:20","slug":"nu-invigs-kirunas-nya-centrum-westerelsner-arkitekter-ar-pa-plats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wester-elsner.se\/en\/nu-invigs-kirunas-nya-centrum-westerelsner-arkitekter-ar-pa-plats","title":{"rendered":"Wester+Elsner Archictects present at inauguration of Kiruna\u2019s new centre"},"content":{"rendered":"

Some of the archiects whose ideas have helped shape Kiruna\u2019s new city centre were at the inauguration ceremony to celebrate its official opening on 1st September this year.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIt has been incredibly good fun, challenging and a unique expereince. You probably won’t be part of something like this many times in your career\u201d, says Wester+Elsner architect Kajsa Axelsson, who has been responsible for the project and traveled the long distance north with colleagues Martina Norrby and Karin Widell to join in the celebrations.<\/p>\n

Significantly more of our employees have, of course, worked with Kiruna’s commercial district over the years. This extensive assignment began with the strategic planning of the entire retail district, and later the design of customer streets and interior squares, right down to store concepts and interiors for many of the businesses that were moved. The work took place in close collaboration with Kirunabost\u00e4der, LKAB and Lule\u00e5-based design architects Stark arkitekter.<\/p>\n

A quick recap
\n<\/strong>In 2013 White Architects, in collaboration with Norwegian-based Ghilardi+Hellsten, were named winners in a competition to design Kiruna\u2019s city centre. The winning concept was based on a neighbourhood environment with streets radiating out from the City Hall square. A detailed development plan based on this idea was then drawn up which specified dimensions and content.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis meant we had a lot to work with from the start\u201d, says Kajsa Axelsson.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur challenge was to intertwine the flows of the pedestrian streets, which stretch from the square at one end to the traditionally car-borne volume trade at the other\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnother consideration was the size of the city blocks. Some of them were as big as \u00c5hl\u00e9n’s city in Stockholm, which is, of course, enormous in relation to the scale of the smaller city of Kiruna. So we have worked extensively on making the lower level open and accessible from all sides while avoiding dead-ends \u00a0as much as possible\u201d, says Kajsa.<\/p>\n

Logistics are important in a shopping district. By factoring in easily accessible loading zones, delivery vehicles can drive through the neighbourhood without having to reverse or disturb residents.<\/p>\n

The city\u2019s more visible design elements are strongly influenced by the region\u2019s materials and cultural history.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have worked a lot with what we perceive to be Kiruna’s DNA –\u00a0 nature, the mountains and local stone. And also leading-edge technology and the connection with the sky above. We have generous entrances for both light and darkness through the use of roof lanterns. In the interior environments we have used sustainable local materials that age well as much as possible – especially wood, which provides warmth and tactility\u201d.<\/p>\n

Something that made a strong impression on us as architects during the project have been Kiruna’s business owners. The level of commitment and service they have shown is extraordinary, and several of them manage businesses that have existed for generations. Moving the city, the pandemic and the present unsettled state of the world have presented significant challenges. Now Kajsa Axelsson and her colleagues hope that the opening can represent a positive new start for Kiruna.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur hope is that the business owners will support one another in this new environment. And of course that it will be a place where Kiruna residents and visitors will enjoy themselves. The city centre will now continue to grow with additional travel hubs and more housing\u00a0\u201d, says Kajsa Axelsson.<\/p>\n

Feel free to contact us if you want to find out more about our work with Kiruna’s retail district.
\nProject architect Kajsa Axelsson, Tel: 08 402 68 81
\n<\/span>Email: kajsa.axelsson@wester-elsner.se<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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