After mining forced a move from Kiruna, the city center is perceived as colder by many. SVT Norrbotten has previously reported that it can be up to ten degrees colder in winter.
In terms of principles for how to build in a cold climate, they have not optimized for it, but have prioritized other things, says Jennie Sjöholm, a building antiquarian at the University of Gothenburg, who has followed the work on the urban relocation.
She has compared the planning of the new Kiruna with historical building documents and discovered major differences in how the city was planned.
“Best spot already taken”
They have built it so that it is shadier and more exposed to wind, and it can be cold in Kiruna, says Jennie Sjöholm.
When city planner Per Olof Hallman drew up the city plan for Kiruna in 1900, the city was placed on a south-facing slope for the best sun exposure. The streets were not straight but followed the terrain in gentle curves to avoid wind tunnel effects.
New Kiruna has a worse starting point, located in a valley where cold air collects in winter.
But the best location was already taken by old Kiruna. So the location they chose was perhaps the best considering the alternatives they had, but it's not as optimal.
The researcher: A miss.
The new city center has taller buildings and narrower streets – making it difficult for the low-lying sun to find its way between the buildings. In addition, a large square has been built where the city hall and a hotel are located.
It is understandable that you need that type of gathering place in a city, but from a microclimate perspective it can be windy and snow drifts, says Jennie Sjöholm.
Hopefully, it can be improved as the city is completed, with the help of trees and vegetation that can contribute to more protected spaces. But solving the problem completely may be difficult, says Jennie Sjöholm.
Kiruna is profiled as a winter town, with a very winter climate. The fact that it is not doing as well as possible in terms of the residents and how pleasant it is to move around outdoors all year round can be seen as a failure.
