Overall view of the Kiruna City Hall
The Swedish town of Kiruna, located 95 miles north of the Arctic Circle, is home to the world’s largest iron mine. Originally established due to its rich mineral resources, the town now faces a serious threat from the very mining activity that built it. After a century of continuous mining, the ground beneath Kiruna has become unstable, with deep fissures forming and soil collapsing into them—posing a significant risk of engulfing parts of the town within this century.
To address this, the mining company Luossavaara Kirirunavaara (LKAB) proposed a bold solution: relocating the entire town three kilometers to the east.
This massive undertaking involved demolishing the old Kiruna, relocating residents to a new city center, and moving several generations of local cultural heritage. These changes disrupted the close-knit community bonds and led to the loss of family-run shops that had stood for generations. The relocation challenged the town’s identity and prompted an exploration of the relationship between architecture and community.
In 2012, LKAB and the Kiruna local government launched a competition to design the new city hall—the first building in the new town center.
Partial view of the new City Hall
The Danish architectural firm Henning Larsen, in collaboration with Temagruppen, WSP, UiWE, and others, won the competition, outperforming 56 teams from around the world. Their winning design pays homage to Kiruna’s history and serves as a catalyst for community revitalization.
Named Kristallen, or “Crystal,” the building draws inspiration from the angular geometry of iron ore—the foundation of Kiruna’s identity.
Exterior view of the Crystal City Hall
Sectional view of the City Hall
After two years of construction, King Carl XVI of Sweden officially inaugurated the new Kiruna City Hall. Louis Becker, Partner and Design Director at Henning Larsen, views the project as an architectural tribute to Kiruna’s heritage and a public commitment to rebuilding the community.
Crystal City Hall exterior
The Crystal City Hall serves both the citizens and formal social gatherings. Its external volume houses office spaces for the Kiruna municipal government, public exhibition halls, creative studios, and conference rooms—forming the core of the new city center’s public realm.
Becker explains, “This is a space for long-term friends and colleagues to gather, maintaining a sense of social unity during Kiruna’s transitional relocation.”
Common room inside the City Hall
Common room
Common room
Rest lounge area
Council Hall
Meeting room
First floor plan
Kiruna’s town hall has been revitalized with inspiration from Swedish architect Arthur von Schmalensee. Henning Larsen’s design incorporates the landmark 1958 clock tower and the original main entrance gate handle, symbolizing both a visual and material continuation of Kiruna’s history and identity.
The circular floor plan emphasizes the building’s role as a public center. Serving as the heart of the new town center, the Crystal City Hall offers broad accessibility to the community while focusing energy and activity towards its core. It stands as the welcoming reception hall of the new Kiruna, open to all.
Interior hall of the City Hall
Interior hall of the City Hall
Internal rest corridor of the City Hall
Internal corridor of the City Hall
Internal corridor of the City Hall
Internal corridor of the City Hall
Internal corridor of the City Hall
Fifth floor plan
“Community identity often has deep geographical roots,” said Louis Becker, Partner and Design Director at Henning Larsen. “We understand that losing a sense of belonging during Kiruna’s relocation will be a major challenge for residents. We hope this city hall will not only serve as an effective local government hub but also act as a space to celebrate Kiruna’s history and a lasting symbol of local identity.”
Partial view of the Crystal City Hall
Interior space of the Crystal City Hall
Interior wall surface materials
The inauguration ceremony was attended by His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustav, who officially opened the new building and praised it for bringing joy to Kiruna’s residents and future generations. Also present were Kristina Zakrisson, Mayor of Kiruna, and Alice Bah Kuhnke, Sweden’s Minister of Culture.
Exterior of the Crystal City Hall
Project Information
Architect: Henning Larsen
Address: Linbanevägen 9, 981 30 Kiruna, Sweden
Design Team: Anders Japp Wieliczko Wester, Carlos Ramos Fernandez, Christian Bøggild Schuster, Dorte Nielsen, Gitte Edelgren, Henrik Christensen, Haakon Gilje Aarseth, Kyd Kitchaiya, Martin Stenberg, Mia Johnson, Nina la Cour Sell, Per Ebbe Hansson, Peter Tegner Matz, Stefan Ernst Jensen, Søren Kristensen, Teddy Brøgger-Jensen, Thomas Tang, Victor Pastorino Nyman, Zazia Wihlborg Bigom
Building Area: 13,180 square meters
Project Year: 2018
Photographer: Hufton+Crow
Manufacturer: Naturstein Montering AS
Engineer: WSP
Landscape Architect: Temagruppen
Partner: PEAB
Collaboration Leader: Peer Teglgaard Jeppese
Project Manager: Jesper Høiberg
Interior Design Team: Karima Andersen, Marie Louise Mangor
Client: LKAB
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