The Venice Architecture Biennial ranks as one of the world’s greatest architectural events. The 2004 edition – the ninth in succession – had the theme of ”Metamorphosis”. The Nordic pavilion features an exhibition jointly produced by the Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish museums of architecture, now on show at the museum.

With the lodestars and “great powers” of architecture hogging more and more of the limelight, the Nordic architectural scene tends to be relegated to comparative obscurity. In this exhibition, Visualised in Venice, the Swedish Museum of Architecture presents eight projects from Finland, Norway and Sweden, chosen for their innovative solutions and good qualities, and also for their embodiment of a renewal of Nordic tradition. The buildings, erected between 1999 and 2003, represent solutions for a variety of fields. The two Norwegian projects are rooms for worship. The Finnish contributions are homes or buildings associated with the home, while the Swedish exhibits are public buildings for trade, services and offices.

Sweden

Posten headquarters, Solna, Sweden

By BSK Arkitekter/Lise-Lott Söderlund with Svante Bergman, Malin Kadesjö and Ulf Mangefors, 2003 >Read more

Hästens Sängar Concept Store, Köping, Sweden

By Thomas Eriksson Arkitekter (TEArk) /Thomas Eriksson, Oscar Jansson and Henrietta Palmer, 2002. >Read more

Sfera Building, Kyoto, Japan

By Claesson Koivisto Rune/Mårten Claesson, Eero Koivisto, Ola Rune, Kumi
Nakagaki, Deta Gemzell, Patrick Coan, 2003 >Read more

Metamorphosis

The Swedish Museum of Architecture also presents the five Swedish projects from the main international exhibition curated by Swiss architectural scholar Kurt W. Foster at the Arsenal. This was the first time Sweden had been represented in this prestigious context, with the Museum presenting what the outside world, with reference to the Biennial theme of “Metamorphosis”, considers most interesting about present-day Swedish architecture. The following three Swedish architect practices and Swedish-staffed network offices were invited by the Commissioner::

Claesson Koivisto Rune Arkitektkontor
Sfera Building, Kyoto, and competition entry for a visitors’ centre at Lund Cathedral

Wilhelmson Arkitekter
Ringtorpsplatsen, Helsingborg

Wingårdh Arkitektkontor
House of Sweden, new Swedish Embassy building in Washington, and Björntand, Östersund

Servo
Lobbi-Ports v2.0, New York
i samarbete Small Design Firm

The Pavilion

The exhibition is housed in the lovely Nordic pavilion designed
by Norwegian architect Sverre Fehn and opened in 1962.

Lectures

Contemporary Norwegian architecture
Jan-Olav Jensen, architect, Professor, Oslo School of Architecture.
Tuesday 22nd March, 6 pm, Auditorium.

The Ninth Venice Architecture Biennial
Curator Karin Åberg Waern.
Tuesday 12th April, 6 pm, in the Auditorium.

Guided viewings

Sunday 20th February, 2 pm
The new Swedish Post headquarters, Solna
Architect Lise-Lott Söderlund, BSK Arkitekter

Sunday 13th March, 2 pm
Hästens Sängar, Köping
Architect Thomas Eriksson, Thomas Eriksson Arkitekter

Sunday 24th April, 2 pm
Sfera Building, Kyoto
Architect Ola Rune, Claesson, Koivisto Rune

Finland

House Moby Dick in Esbo by Jyrki Tasa, Sauna Sirola in Toivakka by Niko Sirola and Studio Silja Rantanen in Karis, Finland by Hannele Grönlund represent Finland in the Nordic exhibition. In the picture you see House Moby Dick. Read more about the house!

Norway

Mortensrud Church, in Oslo by Jensen & Skodvin Arkitektkontor and Chapel of rest at Asker Crematorium in Asker by Carl-Viggo Hølmebakk Arkitektkontor represent Norway in the Nordic exhibition. In the picture you see Mortensrud Church. Read more about the building!