A UNIQUE 113-YEAR-OLD WOODEN CHURCH IN SWEDEN IS BEING MOVED TO A NEW HOME MILES AWAY
In many places, historic architecture is sacrificed when the urban landscape changes, but not in Kiruna, Sweden. Kiruna, the northernmost town in the region of Lapland, is well-known for a number of things, one of which is a church with historical significance. The wooden church, which was constructed between 1909 and 1912, was chosen as the most beautiful structure in the nation. Therefore, special measures were taken when the LKAB mine needed to expand, endangering the stability of the chapel.
The remarkable structure, based on a Sámi hut, was moved a little more than three miles to a new city centre in two days. The Dutch logistics firm Mammoet, which specialises in moving big items, miraculously managed to move it intact. Mammoet, who was employed by the civil engineering firms Veidekke and LKAB, carried out a great deal of testing to guarantee that the 672-ton wooden church would be moved without incident.
The transfer was a real spectacle, planned for August to avoid weather-related delays. The King of Sweden is among the thousands of people who swarm the streets along the route to see this amazing event. The church was difficult to relocate since it was 131 feet wide, but with meticulous planning—including enlarging the roads—it was able to reach its new location.
Mammoet created an ultra-strong pallet by jacking the church up a little more than four feet and supporting it on steel beams in order to make the trip. Two trains of 28 axle lines of self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs) subsequently carried the cargo. Stability sensors made sure the church was secure during the transfer.
The SPMTs lowered the Kiruna church onto its new concrete base after it had reached its new location. Mammoet also relocated the 99-ton belfry of the church a few days later. Kiruna Church is closed to the public as it settles in, with plans to reopen as soon as possible to allow people to continue enjoying this significant piece of cultural heritage.
Sweden is sending a message and establishing a significant precedent, even though the planning was long and the expense was probably high. Historical architecture is not to be destroyed by modern growth; rather, with a bit of time and care, it can be integrated into something new and beautiful.