Location: Kiruna–Narvik

Clients: Pikene på Broen, 0047
Team: Anders Johansson, Erik Wingquist, Magnus Nilsson

Testbedstudio contributed to Barents Urban Survey, part of the Pan-Barents Triennial, with Iron Trails: a large hand-drawn environmental section mapping the corridor between Kiruna and Narvik and the role of the Malmbanan railway in tying together landscapes, resources, and everyday life. The drawing positioned the region as a testing ground for post-industrial futures and was published as a chapter in the book Northern Experiments, linking ore logistics to new experimental economies.

The city of Narvik sits in a fjord on the coast of Norway. People here live their lives by the sea, but right behind them, hidden in the mountains, is the vast inland of Sweden. That inland is not usually thought of as part of the Barents region. At Narvik, however, the connection becomes both visible and active, through the railway link to Kiruna. The Malmbanan track carries iron ore pellets from the mine to the port. This single line ties the two cities together, forms the base of the local economy, and runs through everyday life. Together with the landscape and the natural resources, these factors open up the possibilities for the future of the region. They have already produced something like a testing ground, where experimental and new technology ventures keep starting up. In time, these activities may take over and form a new base of life for a post-industrial society. The drawing plots the characters and connections that make up the region, offers a particular reading of the area, and lets the viewer speculate on how the region might shape its own future.