Kunskapshuset (House of Knowledge)

Basic information

Project Title

Full project title

Kunskapshuset (House of Knowledge), Gällivare

Project Description

North of the Arctic Circle, two cities are about to become one due to mining activities, and will share city centre. The centrally located school Kunskapshuset (House of Knowledge) host the municipality’s upper secondary school and adult learning centres. The asymmetrical design breaks down the building’s scale and gives it an enduring and powerful architectural character. Great emphasis has been placed on creating a flexible and attractive educational environment.

Project Region

Gothenburg, Sweden

EU Programme or fund

Description of the project

Summary

North of the Arctic Circle, two cities are about to become one, as Malmberget is moved due to mining activities and will share city centre with nearby Gällivare town. Through citizen dialogues and contact with local businesses and other stakeholders, the municipality has decided upon a vision of creating a ‘world-class Arctic small town‘. The centrally located school Kunskapshuset host the municipality’s upper secondary school and adult learning centres. Using the Sapmi culture, the polar nature and the mining industry as inspiration, the six storey-high school has been designed as a landmark telling the story of the culture and the area. The asymmetrical design breaks down the building’s scale and gives it an enduring and powerful architectural character. Great emphasis has been placed on creating a flexible and attractive educational environment, equipped for future change and development needs.

The Sami culture, the surrounding nature and the mine are significant sources of inspiration on Kunskapshuset’s architecture. The red colour, taken from the reddest elements in the nearby nature, stands out, but in a manner that does not distract its interaction with the other buildings in town. The asymmetric design also unites the building with the context, the surrounding existing buildings, church, and the square. During the project, three Sami artists were commissioned, Britta Marakatt-Labba, Monica Edmondson and Anders Sunne, each representing interesting parts of the Sami culture. They were commissioned to create works of art connecting the building to the native culture and creating a vivid platform for Sami art in the city.

Key objectives for sustainability

Kunskapshuset is placed in the city centre with all the benefits of transport and service already being in place. Space is shared between the upper secondary school, the adult learning centre and the municipal council. Parts of the school like conference rooms and a sauna is used by both the council and the school. The school is part of the process of transforming two towns, Malmberget and Gällivare, into one. The building is very compact compared to the old school in Malmberget, the town north of Gällivare that had to be moved due to the mining industry. The old school was 24,500 square meters and placed in 6 different buildings. The new school is in one building and approximately 15,000 square meters.

Key objectives for aesthetics and quality

The Sami culture, the surrounding nature and the mine are significant sources of inspiration on Kunskapshuset’s architecture. The red colour, taken from the reddest elements in the nearby nature, stands out, but in a manner that does not distract its interaction with the other buildings in town. The asymmetric design also unites the building with the context, the surrounding existing buildings, church, and the square. Using the Sapmi culture, the polar nature and the mining industry as inspiration, the six storey-high school has been designed as a landmark telling the story of the culture and the area. Great emphasis has been placed on creating a flexible and attractive educational environment, equipped for future change and development needs.

During the project, three Sami artists were commissioned, Britta Marakatt-Labba, Monica Edmondson and Anders Sunne, each representing interesting parts of the Sami culture. They were commissioned to create works of art connecting the building to the native culture and creating a vivid platform for Sami art in the city.

Key objectives for inclusion

A long process of dialogues with the citizens of Malmberget and Gällivare started the project with the new school. In the building there is a café mainly made for students where they can meet, a special school for students with neurodiversity and the school combine practical programs and theoretical programs for students of the upper secondary school.

We have created a social staircase, since there is only one way up through the building, everybody uses the same stair. The black, mine-like stair has two stairways that connects on different levels and create places where you can meet as you walk upwards or downwards. The different educations/programs are divided into smaller hubs, which means that the students can decide themselves to what extent they want to interact with the building as a whole or not. In the same way they can be more or less part of the everyday life of the surrounding town.

The building has two main entrances on each side of the entrance hall. This is also a public path through the school building.

Results in relation to category

Kunskapshuset is one of the new buildings in the great project of moving the citizens of Malmberget, north of Gällivare, to Gällivare and its surroundings. Kunskapshuset is placed in the centre of Gällivare and is one of the most important buildings for branding the new Gällivare as a ‘world-class Arctic small town‘. The architecture tells a story of the place, its history, its surrounding nature and the mine. 1000 students and teachers are a great tribute to the everyday life in the small town of Gällivare, and the school is partly open to the public. The architecture is also a way to make students proud of their school and hopefully inspire them to do great things in the future.

How Citizens benefit

Kunskapshuset is changing the centre of Gällivare. What used to be a big parking lot has turned into the heart of the town. It is symbol of the new Gällivare which also contains the old town of Malmberget. The move of Malmberget town has been a issue for many years and the municipal council of Gällivare and Malmberget has worked close together with the citizens to create a new town for everybody. The school is important in many aspects in this process, it unites the young people. As architecture, it is expressing the place and its history. It is a provider of inspiration and can help create a vivid town during daytime.