{"id":96204,"date":"2025-08-26T03:30:08","date_gmt":"2025-08-26T03:30:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/96204\/"},"modified":"2025-08-26T03:30:08","modified_gmt":"2025-08-26T03:30:08","slug":"century-old-kiruna-church-in-sweden-travels-to-new-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/96204\/","title":{"rendered":"century-old kiruna church in sweden travels to new home"},"content":{"rendered":"

church in Sweden is Relocated in One Piece<\/p>\n

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The Kiruna church<\/a>, one of Sweden\u2019s<\/a> largest wooden<\/a> buildings and once voted the nation\u2019s most beautiful, is relocated in its entirety to a new home five kilometers away. The move, carried out over two days in August 2025 by heavy-lift specialist Mammoet, marks a pivotal moment in the town\u2019s long-term urban transformation<\/a> (find designboom\u2019s previous coverage here<\/a>), which has been underway since 2013 due to the expansion of the world\u2019s largest iron ore mine.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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The 713-tonne church, built in the early 20th century, was transported in one piece as part of Kiruna\u2019s relocation project. The town, situated above vast mineral reserves, has faced subsidence caused by continuous extraction, an operation estimated to yield the equivalent of six Eiffel Towers\u2019 worth of ore every day. As the mine gradually consumes the western edge of Kiruna, several civic and residential buildings are being relocated to a newly planned city center in phases. The relocation of the church, dubbed \u2018the great church walk,\u2019 is among the most symbolically significant acts of this urban migration.<\/p>\n

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images courtesy of Mammoet, unless stated otherwise<\/p>\n

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Kiruna\u2019s Wooden Landmark on the Move<\/p>\n

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The relocation of Kiruna Church crystallizes a wider story of adaptation, a community making space for the forces that sustain it. To make sure the fragile wooden structure is moved safely, Dutch company <\/a>Mammoet worked with Norwegian construction and civil engineering company<\/a> Veidekke and Swedish timber specialists on extensive modeling and testing. In preparation, the building was jacked up 1.3 meters and set onto steel beams, resting on two trains of 28 axle lines of self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs). A custom monitoring system kept the tilt within 7.5 cm between sides, while the route was carefully reinforced with widened and compacted roads, and trial runs with counterweights replicated the stresses of the church\u2019s load.<\/p>\n

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The operation was scheduled for August 19th and 20th, 2025, to minimize risks from Arctic weather and unfolded across daylight hours, drawing thousands of spectators, including His Majesty Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden, to witness the slow procession. Once in place, the structure was gently lowered onto its new concrete foundations, completing a journey of precision and care. In the coming days, its detached 90-tonne belfry will also be transported.<\/p>\n

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\u2018This project exemplifies the importance of detailed engineering and planning in executing unique and meaningful moves,\u2019 notes William Soeters, project manager at Mammoet. \u2018We\u2019re proud to have played a key role in safeguarding this historic building for future generations.\u2019<\/p>\n

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The Kiruna church is relocated in its entirety to a new home five kilometers away<\/p>\n

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one of Sweden\u2019s largest wooden buildings and once voted the nation\u2019s most beautiful | image via @veidekke<\/a><\/p>\n

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the move was carried out over two days by heavy-lift specialist Mammoet | image via @veidekke<\/a><\/p>\n