Importing Architecture

An increasing number of international architects are winning architectural competitions or getting commissions in Norway. Who are they and what are they building? A new exhibition addressing these questions opens at the National Museum – Architecture on Friday 23 November.

 The “Importing Architecture” exhibition presents a selection of international architects and their work, focusing on their projects in Norway. The exhibition features, for example, Danish-Belgian JDS (Denmark/Belgium), Kleihues + Schuwerk (Germany), Steven Holl (USA) and Renzo Piano (Italy). These are the firms behind prestigious projects such as the Holmenkollen ski jump, the National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design in Oslo, the Hamsun Centre in Hamarøy and the recently opened Astrup Fearnley Museum at Tjuvholmen in Oslo, respectively.

 The aim of the exhibition is to provide the public with information about the many international architects that leave their footprints across the country: What are they building, who are they, and what do they stand for? The exhibition will also provide a basis for investigating the impact that increased globalisation and new competition rules have on the development of architecture in Norway.

 One of the reasons for the increasing number of international architects with projects in Norway is the introduction of the EU’s competition rules in 1994, which require that all competitions over a certain size must be announced throughout Europe. Another reason is that construction activities in Norway have been significantly greater in scope than in other European countries throughout the last years.

 “Importing Architecture” not only showcases completed buildings, but also presents exciting new projects that are currently under development or construction in Norway. The exhibition presents more than a dozen international architects via models, material samples, films, renderings, drawings and more. The exhibition runs until 7 April 2013.

For further information about the exhibition, contact curator Eva Madshus eva.madshus@nasjonalmuseet.no – tel. +47 916 07 526 or project manager Nina Frang Høyum nina.hoyum@nasjonalmuseet.no – tel. + 47 480 034852