Name: Markus Köhler
Track: Architecture
Studio: Borders & Territories
Year: MSc2 / 2024
Type: Design project
Tutor: Marc Schoonderbeek
Description:
The iron ore deposit of the Kiruna mine represents one of the largest anomalies in the Earth's magnetic field. During on-site fieldwork, Köhler explored the mystical force of Kiruna’s minerals, which becomes evident when subjected to a magnetic field. He experimented with the potential of electromagnetic attraction and repulsion to create temporal spatial structures. By making the invisible power of magnetism visible, the design connected the magnetite to the narrative of a whole town in the process of moving, leaving behind an uninhabitable environment. The continuous deformation of Kiruna prompts a reflection on the post-mining scenario. What will Kiruna become once all the iron ore has been extracted?