Blackhorner Houses

Project idea

The Blackhorner Houses project started in response to a citizens association’s efforts to preserve a historically significant neighborhood in Kiruna, Sweden. The Lekplats was selected for demolition due to landslides caused by nearby mining activities. The area is considered by the community to be a significant part of their cultural and historical heritage. It is characterized by traditional Swedish urban planning with large green spaces, and coloured residential buildings. Given the community-driven nature of the project, their needs and desires were prioritised throughout the process. As a result, three of Blackhorner's twin houses were relocated to a new, green site, symbolizing the preservation of their cultural legacy.

Project description

To make sure that we successfully repurposed these structures, constant consultations were held with local associations, urban planners, and the municipality. The relocation process was exactly planned to maintain the integrity and historical value of the buildings. While choosing the site it was important to us not to change too much the already created master plan of the new city. To achieve this green area was selected to preserve context from the initial neighbourhood. Two of these houses were repurposed into a gallery showcasing local artists and a cultural centre. Both of them were designed to serve as the heart for cultural and educational activities.
The gallery aims to provide a platform for local artists to display their work, creating a sense of community and encouraging artistic expression. The cultural centre offers a variety of programs, including workshops, lectures, and events, designed to engage residents of all ages and backgrounds. The third house maintained its original residential function. Such measures ensured that the historical living environment was preserved for future generations. Additionally, a project of creating an outline of a mural on the plaza was planned to join the citizens. The idea was that people of all kinds would come and fill the mural’s outline with colours to revive the neighbourhood.
This holistic approach not only preserves the historical essence of Lekplats but also enriches the community by providing spaces for cultural and educational activities, fostering a sense of pride and continuity. The Blackhorner Houses project shows how repurposing can be a powerful tool for sustainable urban development and cultural preservation.

Technical information

The buildings were relocated in their entirety to prevent any damage. Only slight changes were introduced to two of them to achieve a united space inside the structure and to improve the quality of use of these spaces as gallery and cultural centre. Moreover, inside a circle which created a plaza, was installed a playground which imitated in its shapes the mountains around.

Documentation

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