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- White Arkitekter Kiruna 4-Ever PlanAlthough some architects may be known for moving the masses with their jaw dropping designs, few can say they have literally moved entire cities. Sweden-based <a href="http://www.white.se/en/" target="_blank">White Arkitekter</a> recently triumphed over 10 other firms to win an international competition to move the city of Kiruna, Sweden. Over a century of iron mining has caused numerous underground cracks to destabilize the ground underneath the small town, and the architects' amazing Kiruna 4-Ever plan will gradually relocate it over the course of many decades.1
- White Arkitekter Kiruna 4-Ever PlanThe Kiruna 4-Ever Plan will first create a new central strip that will run west to east through the current city center.2
- White Arkitekter Kiruna 4-Ever PlanGradually, the density to the east will be incrementally expanded while the buildings on the west side will be progressively dismantled.3
- White Arkitekter Kiruna 4-Ever Planrchitect Mikael Stenqvist explains: "Literally relocating an entire city, Kiruna will be a bit like a walking millipede with its house and feet – moving, crawling slowly a couple of kilometers towards the east."4
- White Arkitekter Kiruna 4-Ever PlanAlthough the process will be inconvenient for Kiruna residents (to say the least), there are some major advantages to the massive relocation project.5
- White Arkitekter Kiruna 4-Ever PlanAs the town rapidly expanded due to its dependence on mining, the city lacked modern infrastructure elements that kept the town fairly isolated.6
- White Arkitekter Kiruna 4-Ever PlanAs part of the relocation project, Kiruna will receive a new <a href="https://inhabitat.com/som-unveils-miami-multimodal-hub-for-all-aboard-floridas-new-rail-network/" target="_blank">transport system</a>, including cable cars and freight trains, that will provide better connections to neighboring towns.7
- White Arkitekter Kiruna 4-Ever PlanThere are also high hopes that the move will bring new businesses to the area, making it less dependent on iron mining.8