Lightness, Quickness, Exactitude, Visibility, Multiplicity and Consistency

Congratulations to Berit who has now finished her diploma!
We had the opportunity to see and to celebrate it yesterday with great food, company and discussions - as always in Casa S.

..and those words: Lightness, Quickness, Exactitude, Visibility, Multiplicity and Consistency, are of course of Italo Calvino and his Six Memo's and, to put it very short, the departure for Berit's excellent work.

If you're in Århus you can see her and the other students' projects at the diploma exhibition.

diseñart #35

Spanish magazine diseñart #35 presents our kindergartens over three spreads.

Island tour

We've spent the last days traveling some of Norway's most beautiful islands to see projects under construction, already built ones and some sites for possible new projects. So we left Tromsø, passed Kvaløya to go to Senja, from there we continued to Andøya, Hinnøya, Langøya in Vesterålen and on to the Lofoten islands of Austvågøy and Vestvågøy, and then Hamarøy.
In addition to checking our own projects we also took a look at Steven Holl's Hamsunsenter which is to be opened in less than a month, and we couldn't pass by Dan Graham's mirror sculpture without a stop.

Plan

In the magazine Plan #3-4 several projects and processes where D&U and 70°N been involved are mentioned as examples of more experimental and 'spectacular' planning. John Pløger refers to the Game of Tromsø and the Year of Urban Development, as well as our article Openness and Experiment, in his article Ambivalens og etos - forskjeller og likheter i byplanlegging i Norge og Danmark.

Hanne Bertnes and Aasne Haug uses the Nordhavnen competition as a case in the article Et møte med dansk planmiljø:
"Hvordan sikres intensjonene i en god plan? Er det i styrkeforholdet mellom offentlig ansvarlighet og private investorer man finner svaret, eller er det mer i prosessen og mindre i selve svaret? De tre vinnerne etter første runde i Nordhavnen hadde ulike svar på akkurat dette. Mens de to danske prosjektene la opp til en "tradisjonell" planstrategi der planen definerer de fysiske strukturer, satset det norske vinnerbidraget på en prosessbasert planstrategi, der viktige offentlige strukturer defineres, men der fremtidens fysiske omgivelser defineres suksessivt med utviklingen. Denne tankemåten erkjenner at vi ikke vet hva fremtidens samfunn trenger, men er samtidig mer krevende for planleggere og utviklere som ønsker forutsigbarhet."

"How to secure the intentions of a good plan?
The three winning concepts in the Nordhavnen competition had different answers to this question. While both the danish projects presented a 'traditional' planning strategy where the plan defines the physical structures, the norwegian winning proposal went for a process based planning strategy, where important public structures are defined, but where the physical surroundings of the future are defined successively with the development. This thinking recognizes that we do not know what tomorrow's society needs, but is at the same time more challenging for planners and developers who wish predictability."

TaTLIN 5|47|64| 2008

We had only seen the cover of this TaTLIN magazine presenting Strandkanten, but here's the whole article.

cathedrals & hotels

Gisle's writing about how hotels have taken over the right to build monuments in our cities with a recent example from Narvik and a quote from Aaron Betsky on that if one's considering building monumental, free-standing buildings today one should be sure they are of the same importance and quality as yesterday's cathedrals - the buildings that historically have had this place.

COP after RIO

Jan Carlsen puts attention on the upcoming COP15, taking place in Copenhagen in December, with an article in Arkitektnytt.
He's been talking sustainability with Knut Eirik Dahl and Marius Nygaard of AHO using our Excentral Park - Edge Dynamics project as a starting point.

Seismograph City

The exhibition Seismograph City opened Monday in Hamburg. Nordhavnen / Excentral Park - Edge Dynamics is exhibited together with other projects under the the title Sustainable Strategies in Dialogue.

The universal city defines itself not only as the catalyst of cultural, social, economic and ecological processes, but also as the seismograph of global developments. Never before has there been such consensus between politicians and the public on the question of how we can innovatively and constructively improve our living environment. Given global challenges to develop sustainable strategies in architecture and urban design, the architectural profession assumes a significant role and responsibility. This exhibition and catalogue present a diverse spectrum of buildings in various stages of development and completion as well as visionary designs which address sustainable strategies in the context of current architectural and urban developments worldwide. Selected projects provide an exciting insight (not overview) into current planning in the city of Hamburg, as well as a fascinating and rather surprising collection of projects, designs and visions which excite our imaginations, give us strength, motivation and which hopefully inspire us to further examine themes of sustainability.

org Freie und Hansestadt Hamburg, Behörde für Stadtentwicklung und Umwelt
Mo bis Sa 11-18 Uhr, Fr 11-20 Uhr
@ Hamburg, Deichtorcenter, Oberbaumbrücke 1

'scape

In the latest issue of 'scape magazine #1 2009, Joren Jacobs has written an intelligent little article about our Nordhavnen project.

Ever-evolving
'The vision of 70°N and Dahl & Uhre clearly opposes traditional linear development which can neither cope with change, nor cater for creative solutions. it cannot do what the people of Copenhagen requested: "no-regulation zones", a place "a bit rough, messy and unpolished", because "the unexpected is attractive". So in addition to their flexible basic structure plan 70°N and Dahl & Uhre's strategy is an ever-evolving open plan process and dialogue. This involves a broad collaborative exchange with many different parties, like journalists, citizens, landscape architects and researchers in various fields (biology, agriculture, economy, energy, marine enviroment, rainwater and culture). As the design firms put it themselves: " One must establish a universe of ideas beyond the field of thought of the developer-institution. In our strategy, the the programming of Nordhavn and the development strategy must constantly be charged with new knowledge. It is possible to see this project as a work of art - in progress.' JJ

Dr M is blogging

We're happy to see our friend Morten has joined the blogosphere. We're sure he'll serve some nice reports and reflections from travels both far and not-so-far away here.

stripes&stripes

Greetings from us and Toyo Ito in Barcelona!

NTR in d2

In today's d2 there is an article on the National Tourist Routes where one of our projects appears (in the printed version).

le Quotidien des Architectes #4 - collab traveling

Now it is time for part 4 in our series on the everyday life of architects: architects collaborate. When we collaborate with others it often includes travelling, as not everybody has a Tromsø branch. This time some of us are off to Barcelona for a competition collaboration - more about it soon!

Interni

Russian Interni magazine presents our kindergartens as part of their playspace special.

Harbour Cities

Gisle + Magdalena give a lecture at the Harbour Cities conference in Kristiansand today - program here.

archi column

Gisle has written a column in today's Nordlys - on architecture politics and processes.

meet the president

The NAL president Kjersti Nerseth is visiting Tromsø and NAF as part of her norwegian tour. The aims are to inform about and discuss the new architecture politics, also on a local level. Thursday June 18 at 19.00 everybody interested is welcome to meet her and fellow NAL representatives at Formannskapssalen, Tromsø rådhus.

the plot

One of our newest and smallest constructions is starting to pay off and today we could taste our first delicious radishes. The rucola and coriander are regularly incorporated in our meals and now we're just waiting for the dessert - strawberries!
See the debuts of our hotbed and its fellow allotment plots here - and post your own to the collection.

more winners

This week included a trip to Oslo for Magdalena, to attend the prize ceremony for Statens Byggeskikkpris.

Now we're off into the nature on this beautiful summer's day - a more detailed report will come soon..

Update: Statens byggeskikkpris was delivered Wednesday by the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Magnhild Meltveit Kleppa.

The winning project is Preikestolen Fjellstue by Helen & Hard.

Honourable mentions to:
Ungdomspsykiatrisk avdeling, Førde by Arild Wåge, Nordplan.
Universet studentbarnehage, Tromsø by Steinsvik arkitektkontor
Hundsund grendesenter, Bærum by div.A arkitekter

Nominated projects were also:
Oslo International School by Jarmund/Vigsnæs arkitekter
Løvåshagen by ABO plan & arkitektur
Steinerskolen på Skjold by 3RW arkitekter

award winners

Yesterday's NAF event included the prize ceremony for Northern Norway Architecture Award. This year three awards were given:
- Undomshuset Straumanstua in Lofoten by Jarmund/Vigsnæs
- The rehabilitation of Hamningberg, Finnmark
- The Honour Award was given to Knut Eirik Dahl for his enduring efforts to increase understanding and raise the quality of our urban areas.

Congratulations to you all for well earned attention and appraisal!

Afterwards we were treated with a lecture by Erik Langdalen from LY arkitekter. He told us about some of their interesting and beautiful projects, and their collaboration with Steven Holl on the soon to open Hamsun Centre.

summer detour

The travelling Detour exhibition, showing the National Tourist Routes projects, opens today at Philadelphia Center for Architecture where it will stay during the summer before moving to New York in September.

LY @ NAF

The Architect Association of Northern Norway invites to a lecture by LY arkitekter this Friday June 5, 19.30 at Kinobaren, Tromsø Kino. Afterwards there will be snacks, drinks and discussions at the bar - welcome!

world in denmark - change

Reflective urbanism - experimenting openness is the title of the lecture to be given by Gisle and Knut Eirik at the World in Denmark conference, May 29 at DAC, Copenhagen.

From the program:
Change has become mantra: climate change, environmental, financial and political change. Change in nature and society has before resulted in change in the aesthetic language; as a sign of something upcoming or as a mirroring of something that has arrived. Is this the case in today’s urban space? Do we see and do we need new definition, new significance new use of the urban landscape and consequently a new aesthetic language in the urban space? Though the significance belongs to the large scale the signs often start in the small – in garden art and landscape architecture. The World in Denmark conference asks this question to landscape architects and their answers will take form as reflections and projects.

artac attac

While the second year students conclude this semester at the art academy with open seminars this Thursday and Friday at Tromsø Kunstforening, the first year students will open their summer exhibition at excellent kurant Tuesday June 2 at 18.00, the exhibition will be open until June 4.

travel & sea

Strandkanten is on the checkonsite guide to architecture and travel.

PKN#6!

We're planning for another PechaKucha Night before the summer!
Keep updated here - and join the info list.

west coast missions

This and next week some of us are travelling the west coasts of Scandinavia. Missions of different kinds will take us to Stavanger, Bergen, Trondheim and Göteborg.. back at the office after Withsun.

spring press

In the air at the moment:
-the work with a proposal for architecture politics
-the europan 10 juries are announced
-a comment on the Innovative Integration conference in Arkitekten
-press on some of the projects nominated for Statens Byggeskikkpris: Universet kindergarten in Tromsø, Preikestolen Fjellstue in Jørpeland and Ungdomspsykiatrisk avdeling in Førde

unfolding homes - transporting dreams

The XBO appears in an article on mobile, ephemeral, minimal structures in swiss Tendance Déco #2 2009. The blue bubble is by Atelier Van Lieshout.

ambientes

Strandkanten is presented in chilean Revista Ambientes #68, have a look at page 95.

go see

As a member of the jury for Statens Byggeskikkpris, Magdalena will spend the week travelling Norway to visit the nominated projects - in Tromsø, Bergen, Stavanger, Førde and Oslo.

Gisle is spending the beginning of the week at The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts - School of Architecture, to teach and lecture at the sustainable living studio, department 10.

The Order of Potatoes

Åsa Sonjasdotter gives a lecture today, Thursday April 30, 15.00, at Kunstakademiet:

The presentation “A Potato Perspective on: The Order of Potatoes” is a rearrangement and actualisation of different presentations I’ve made on the subject over the last few years. In the presentation I will make available potato varieties that are prohibited for commercial circulation within the EU and present material on the historical journey that has led to this state of order.

The potatoes’ journey through Europe, from its first appearance as loot from Spanish Conquistadores’ raids in South America in the 1500s to its position today as genetically regulated plant material, contains many surprising details and conjunctions with major historical, political and economic transformations. Becoming an important foodstuff during industrialisation, the potato is one of the basic threads woven through the story of modern societal transformation.

Cultivated potato varieties are living historical material; they are carriers of information and knowledge from the past. Throughout history, the tubers have been bred to cater to our varying needs and desires, be it those of home-gardeners, small-scale farmers or corporate life sciences researchers. Some of this living history will be available during the exhibition since it takes place very appropriately during the potato-planting season; it will be possible for visitors to collect samples of potato varieties that still exist but have been outlawed for commercial circulation, planting or further distribution.

The handing-out of marginalized potato varieties is an act that increases, in real terms, the genetic diversity that is currently kept locked away in gene banks. It can at the same time be understood as a symbolic distribution, highlighting a matter of urgent importance to Europe: The marginalisation and criminalisation of what capital interests define as ‘disturbing elements’.

More about the project at: potatoperspective.

cold science

Tromsø is hosting the conference Melting Ice: Regional Dramas, Global Wake-Up Call today April 28, and the Arctic Council's Ministerial Meeting tomorrow, so the city is full of ministers and scientists - and Al Gore.
Parts of the Melting Ice conference can be followed on web-TV.

c'est la töff!

Excellent Kurant invites to une fête trusöxuelle this Saturday!
Performance, film, music and surprises!

coastal express

Gisle gives a guest lecture on openness and experiment today at the Network Colloquium: Multidisciplinary Perspectives at NTNU.
Tomorrow he'll lecture on the same theme at BAS, and present the studio we'll be teaching this autumn.

hot inauguration

Our rodeca research project (remember?) was inaugurated during Easter - yes, it's a sauna, on wheels on the terrace.
Blue light, hot steam, fresh snow and cold beer turned out to be a good combination - so this is where you might find us this week-end as well..!

allotmentplot

Spring is coming - join the allotment plot and do some urban agriculture - or why not rural agriculture, si tu préfères..

The idea is that with The Allotment Plot inspire and encourage people to use unplanned or unused areas close to where they live to grow what will become locally produced organically grown vegetables.
Plant a square of vegetable wherever you find the space for it. Grow organically, local and easy. Then publish pictures at our website to inspire more people to plant a square of vegetable wherever they find the space for it.

play all day

Our kindergartens are presented in the Play all day book about designs, concepts and diy ideas for children - cute!

God Påske!

Easter is cabin season - here's from today's VG, and yes, this is where we've spent some of the week..

przedszkole in przekroj