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A master's thesis from Aalborg University
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Kiruna Interpretation Centre: Interpreting the heritage of Kiruna

Translated title

Kiruna Interpretation Centre

Authors

; ;

Term

4. term

Publication year

2021

Submitted on

Pages

228

Abstract

Store dele af den svenske by Kiruna skal flyttes på grund af minedrift og jorddeformationer. Når bygninger i deformationszonen rives ned, opstår der meget byggeaffald. Denne situation åbner for cirkulære løsninger, især opcykling (genbrug med højere kvalitet) af byggematerialer, som kan reducere energiforbrug ved byggeri og transport og samtidig respektere byens arv. Specialet undersøger den arkitektoniske mulighed i en bygningstypologi (en bestemt type bygning), der fortolker og formidler Kirunas kultur- og industriarv, ved at bruge materialer fra urban mining, dvs. genvundne komponenter fra nedrevne bygninger. Projektet foreslår et fortolkningscenter på et tidligere mineområde, hvor fortællingerne om byens arv og årsagen til flytningen samles ét sted. Designet udvikles gennem en metode, hvor problemforståelse og løsningsidéer udvikles sideløbende og forfines over tid. Resultatet er et designforslag, der kobler designparametre hentet fra kulturel, bygget, historisk og naturlig arv.

Large parts of the Swedish city of Kiruna must relocate due to mining and ground deformation. Demolishing buildings in the deformation zone will generate substantial construction waste. This creates an opportunity for circular solutions, especially upcycling (reusing materials at higher value), to cut energy use in construction and transport while honoring the city’s heritage. The thesis explores the architectural potential of a building typology (a specific kind of building) that interprets and communicates Kiruna’s cultural and industrial heritage by using materials recovered through urban mining, i.e., components taken from demolished structures. The project proposes an Interpretation Centre at a former mining site that brings together the stories of the city’s heritage and the reasons for the relocation in one place. The design was developed with a method where the problem definition and solution ideas evolve side by side and are refined over time. The result is a design proposal guided by design drivers drawn from cultural, built, historical, and natural heritage.

[This summary has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]