The buildings are being lifted and relocated, one at a time, by trailer some seven kilometres from Malmberget to a new address in Koskullskulle.
The ground is affected by LKAB's mining operations and the buildings must be moved if mining is to continue. Everything above the mines must be moved to a safer location. In all, there are 30 heritage buildings and 86 residential properties. But this is only a small part of the urban transformation that is currently under way. In Malmberget 3,200 people are affected, and 2,000 dwellings and 250,000 square metres of residential and commercial space and other premises must be redeveloped.
LKAB is preserving buildings of cultural and historic significance while at the same time offering older buildings for rent at a lower rate than in newer residential areas.
The community of Malmberget is located about 100 kilometres above the Arctic Circle. Since the late 1800s this has been the location of the world's second-largest underground iron ore mine. LKAB is one of Sweden's most important export companies. The community was built to house the miners.
No one could have expected that mining would continue to this day. Therefore, the community was built more or less directly above the ore. Now, more than a century later, the community must be phased out and nearby Koskullskulle and Gällivare will be developed and densified. Shops will be relocated to new addresses, children will make their way to school via different routes and new ski trails will be created.
In Malmberget the urban transformation has been taking place for 60 years as areas have been decommissioned.
