venice biennale 2012: denmark pavilion preview

‘greenland inhabiting’ by clement & carlsen architects, qarsoq tegnestue, tegnestuen vandkunsten image © clement & carlsen architects, qarsoq tegnestue, tegnestuen vandkunsten

headed by the danish architecture center and curated by minik rosing and nord architects, ‘possible greenland’ will present greenland as an important player in the global community through the use of images, video and artifacts. three diverse architectural teams will exhibit the scarcely populated country as a ‘migrating’, ‘inhabiting’, and ‘connecting’ hub in the 21st century with projects that explore the untapped potential and challenges existent in the diverse environment and rapidly growing intercontinental involvement.

what will be the theme of the danish pavilion at this year’s venice architecture biennale?   ‘the theme will be greenland and it’s future development as a new nation. greenland is intrinsically a very interesting place with a rich history and some of the last untouched nature on earth. added to this is a new global relevance and actuality caused by the melting of the sea ice on the arctic ocean, and increased potentials for exploitation of petroleum, minerals, and marine biologic resources. greenland will thus be relevant to every person in the world in the coming decade, and we need to explore the possibilities and challenges this provides greenland with. we believe that architects can create images that illustrate some possible future scenarios for greenland. images that stimulate a public debate and thereby provide a more solid basis for political decisions. greenland being a part of the kingdom of denmark, is therefore the theme of this years danish pavilion.‘

‘greenland inhabiting’

image © clement & carlsen architects, qarsoq tegnestue, tegnestuen vandkunsten

‘based on greenlandic values, the conditions created by the arctic climate and by using local materials tegnestuen vandkunsten, quasoq tegnestue og clement & carlsen have developed a proposal for a new arctic building practice. using a modular approach it is possible to create different units to serve different housing needs that are adaptable to the hard, fragile and spectacular greenlandic landscape.’

‘greenland inhabiting’

image © clement & carlsen architects, qarsoq tegnestue, tegnestuen vandkunsten

who are the architects and artists involved and why have they been chosen to represent the pavilion’s theme?

‘basically we have  tried to create versatile teams. our architects are coupled in greenlandic/danish teams consisting of both renowned architects and young studios and architects with experiences within housing, urban planning, strategic planning, landscaping, context analysis and processes. the architect teams of possible greenland are: tnt nuuk, elkiær + ebbeskov architects, hausenberg (working on the theme greenland cultivating) tegnestuen nuuk, big – bjarke ingels group (julie edel hardenberg, inuk silis høegh) (working on the theme greenland connecting), clement & carlsen architects, qarsoq tegnestue, tegnestuen vandkunsten (working on the theme greenland inhabiting), kitaa architects, david garcia studio, henning larsen architects (working on the theme greenland migrating).’

‘greenland migrating’ open greenland harbor market by KITAA architects, david garcia studio, henning larsen architectsimage © KITAA architects, david garcia studio, henning larsen architects

‘as a catalyst for cultural exchange, growth and a sustainable economic development kitaa architects, david garcia studio and henning larsen architects have created four architectural meeting points with great flexibility in the town of ilulissat. it is the aim to promote “meeting” as a resource to facilitate successful migration while maintaining the greenlandic culture and identity. by understanding people as a resource and based on greenlandic values, hospitality and openness the seal protocol have been developed as a welcome letter to new future greenlanders.’

‘greenland migrating’ open greenland sports plaza

image © KITAA architects, david garcia studio, henning larsen architects

how will the content and physical realization of the pavilion support the overarching theme selected by david chipperfield, ‘common ground’?   ‘we have chosen to interpret the theme “common ground” in the literal sense, that the ground on which we live our lives, build ourhouses and plan our cities is common ground. this holds true for greenland,because in greenland all ground is the communal property of all greenlanders. individuals or corporations cannot own land in greenland. this have important implications for the way the space between houses is perceived and utilized, as well as for the economic structure of the greenlandic society. in nations where land is privately owned, land is a major component of the financing and mortgage system, and the prize of land determines lot sizes and thus urban structure. land can be inherited through generations and also is a platform for accumulation of wealth. in greenland this is different. this makes greenland an interesting example of how viable and democratic communities can be based on different financial platforms, and on how indigenous peoples traditional values can be built into the legal systems of modern globalized nations. this willhave increased relevance in a world with steadily increasing population density, cultural exchange and international and national migrations. for instance, internal migrations in greenland are very dynamic, in part because ownership to property is not a barrier for moving.’

‘greenland connecting’ global hub airport by tegnastuen nuuk, BIG – bjarke ingels group, julie edel hardenberg, inuk silis høegh

image © tegnastuen nuuk, BIG – bjarke ingels group, julie edel hardenberg, inuk silis høegh

BIG in collaboration with tegnestuen nuuk address the inconvenience of a rapidly growing population in a globalized world where high prices and lack of international transport hinder residents from venturing out and tourists from visiting. ‘greenland connecting’ provides an integrated hub on the island of angisunnguaq for both air and ocean travel, improving greenland’s economical and social connection to the rest of the world.

bjarke ingels, of BIG, explains the concept of their exhibit:

“greenland has the potential to reposition itself from the periphery to the center of the major world economies of europe, asia and america. greenlanders today are purely dependent on air traffic  for domestic commutes but almost crippled by empty flights and staggering prices. the new air+port will become a transit hub between europe and america – increasing potential transit tourism and cutting costs for the local commuters.   by overlapping the water and airways in the air+port we seek to resolve a domestic challenge with a global investment. a piece of global infrastructure with a positive social side effect – social infrastructure.”

‘greenland connecting’

image © KITAA architects, david garcia studio, henning larsen architects

buckminster fuller map showing greenland in relation to the rest of the world’s land masses

curator minik rosing gives a guided tour of the pavilion

the 13th international architecture biennale is curated by london-based architect david chipperfield. the theme of the event is entitled ‘common ground’ and will run from 29th of august through 25th november 2012, in venice, italy.