Bureplatsen

On an Autumn night in 2004, 100 torch-bearing dancers gathered on a giant concrete disc in a Swedish park. The choreographed ceremony marked the inauguration of a new piece of landscape art, the Bureplatsen.

The Bureplatsen (Bure Place) was built by Swedish artist Hans Peterson on a site located in Norra Stadsberget in Sweden. An open area in an otherwise dense forest holds the massive sculpture, made up of a curved 230-foot concrete wall and a huge concrete disc with an area well over 3,000 square feet.

Bure’s landscaped area is the largest work of art and public ornamentation in the Sundsvall Municipality. The area is intended to be used for a variety of functions and gatherings, such as concerts, theatrical performances, festivals and exhibitions, but also as a place for peace and quiet. 

The art piece was created in year 2004 by sculptors Hans Petersson and Mats Olofgörs (Olope Projects) incollaboration with landscape architect Jonas Berglund (Nivå Landskapsarkitektur AB). The central sculpture has a dia- meter of 350 m, a 75 meters surrounding wall and a mod- eled elliptical landscape space of approximately 4000 m³

The site, now known for its hiking trails and open air museum, was a makeshift landfill in the 1960s and ’70s, ruined by the illegal dumping. Rather than replant trees to cover the damage done to the land, locals wanted something that would take its place without masking the history.

Peterson’s piece gives visitors a chance to interact with the area in a new way. It includes a winding path to a viewing platform overlooking the beautiful surrounding landscape. 

Every year since the unveiling ceremony, a festival with local artists has been held at the spot.