Exhibition at Aedes Architecture Forum: Arctic Nordic Alpine – In Dialogue with Landscape
Arctic Nordic Alpine opened to the public on July 14th at Aedes Architecture Forum in Berlin. Conceived and designed by Snøhetta, the exhibition is dedicated to contemporary architecture in vulnerable landscapes focusing on the influence interventions could have on regions with extreme climatic conditions. It presents pioneering projects by Snøhetta, including New Tungestølen Tourist Cabin in Luster, the energy-efficient Hotel Svart in Svartisen, the Arctic World Archive Visitor Center in Svalbard Island, and the Path of Perspectives on Innsbruck's Nordkette Range.
These projects demonstrate that architecture can promote a more sustainable use of nature – one that is in dialogue with landscape. In addition to the architecture and design projects by Snøhetta, we invited students from the University of Stuttgart, the University of Innsbruck, the Architecture and Design School in Oslo and the student initiative 120 Hours in Oslo to contribute their own projects in response to this timely topic. The exhibition will be on display until August 20th.
The exhibition, a work in itself, consists of a large-scale installation made of printed textiles, spectacular models, and a video installation which provides an inspiring experience for the visitors. Designed to travel, the exhibition will be reused and re-experienced in different formats throughout its lifetime.
As the biggest future challenges for planners and architects are to be found in our cities and urban areas, it might appear less essential to focus on architectural interventions in less populated areas. We do, however, foresee more and more human pressure on areas outside of our cities. To many, the periphery has become the new center of interest and nature has become a carrier of meaningfulness. However, as contradictory as this might seem, some remote areas are becoming especially attractive to the ever-increasing desire of people to be part of something authentic. To secure the diverse sustainability offered in these places also in the future, it will in many cases be correct to do nothing. For the places already under pressure, it will be vital to provide facilities preventing further destruction. We acknowledge the fact that every new construction changes the existing condition of a place.
The exhibition examines the diverse spatial effects of both small and large-scale interventions at each specific setting. Local conditions such as topography and ecology are discussed in addition to cultural, social or economic aspects, such as tourism. With the passion to create, our imagination lets us involve the stories told by nature, translating these stories into architectural form and language.
