nordic pavilion: light houses at venice biennale

nordic pavilion in the giardini at venice biennale image © designboom

at the nordic pavilion at venice’s 13th international architecture exhibition, the exhibit ‘light-houses’ represents the scandinavian common ground with 32 models of projects from finland, norway and sweden. the objects rest on stands designed by juhani pallasmaa within pritzker prize winning sverre fehn’s pavilion which was constructed in 1962. the birthdates of the exhibited architects fall after this date, aggregating examples from the region’s young and rising professionals. each residence evokes the mentality about sustainable and responsible architecture, integrating a simplified form made from minimal materials and is sensitive towards daylight and the environment.

‘adaption’ by haugen/zohar arkitekter, norway image © designboom

with destruction to natural habitats as the leading cause of extinction, this piece addresses the power architects contain to affect the environment with construction of projects impacting the biological evolution of species. with ever-changing roles, the profession is at a crossroads with a globalized economy, abundant information technology and cultural confusion all demanding rapid adaption.

‘mirrorcube’ by tham & videgård arkitekter, sweden see designboom’s coverage of this project as the ‘treehotel’ in harrads, sweden here. image © designboom

‘light house’ by JKMM architects, finland image © designboom

a section of ash tree with a rotten core has been dried, cut and carved out with great care. positioned near the pavilion’s trees, the border-line miniature dwelling and sculptural piece emphasizes a link between built and natural places, similar to the structure which contains it.

‘light house’ by JKMM architects, finland image © designboom

‘the TYIN architects toolbox’ by TYIN tegnestue architects, norway image © designboom

image © designboom

‘white box’ by avanto architects, finland image © designboom

‘light house’ by reiulf ramstad arkitekter, norway image © designboom

‘NILAs’ by lunden osterlund wikar, finland image © designboom

this project is a work in progress image © designboom

detail of acrylic sections image © designboom

‘light house’ by jarmund/vigsnaes architects, norway image © designboom

‘light house’ by kjellander + sjoberg, sweden image © designboom

‘light house’ by kjellander + sjoberg, sweden image © designboom

‘light house’ by ALA architects, finland image © designboom

‘silent bell’ by fantastic norway, norway image © designboom

dedicated to the 69 victims of the terrorist attacks on july 22, 2011 which occurred on the norwegian island of utøya.

‘lighthouse’ by sanaksenaho architects, finland image © designboom

‘PET’ by marge arkitekter, sweden image © designboom

‘transcribed nature’ by atelier oslo, norway image © designboom

credits:

commissioner: juulia kauste, museum of finnish architecture deputy commissioners: the swedish museum of architecture amd the national museum of art, architecture and design/norway curator & designer: peter mackeith assistant curator & designer: philip tidwell pedestal deign: juhani palasmaa graphic design: salla bedard