Course syllabus
Theme 2023: NORDIC WOMEN
What is “the Nordic”? This course has two main aims: first, to give a brief introduction to Nordic architecture. Second, to research Nordic qualities like site adaptation, space, light, and materiality, as well as social characteristics such as collectivity, flexibility, and critical praxis. Students will work in teams on a concrete analysis of one particular building through model making, and the projects will be discussed in a student-led seminar format.
This year’s theme, Nordic Women, engages projects designed by women from across the last century, illuminating contributions from designers more likely to be hidden in the architectural canon and thus broadening the architectural perspective of the students and the broader public.
Schedule
Lectures, seminars and group work
All lectures and group work will be held at school in the Art Studio.
The group work and model building will have a home space in the Art studio, where each group has a table.
Contact details
Tabita Nilsson, course leader, teacher, tabita@chalmers.se, 0709-615052
Bri Gauger, course leader, bri.gauger@chalmers.se, 0701-478671
Isabelle Doucet, professor, examiner, isabelle.doucet@chalmers.se
Johan Linton, professor, linton@chalmers.se
Peter Lindblom, teacher, pl@chalmers.se
Course purpose and content
The course gives a basis for reflection on Nordic architecture on different scales through a discourse with some of its traditions, contemporary developments, buildings and architects. The course is based on lectures, student-led seminars, an optional study trip, and an analysis through model building. The students will work in groups of about five or six students each.
The course has two main aims. First, to give a brief introduction to Nordic architecture. Second, to research Nordic qualities like site adaptation, space, light, and materiality by working with a concrete analysis of one particular building through model making. These aims are tied together through several student-led research seminars, in which concept models are used to elaborate on use of sources, research questions, and preliminary findings from each project.
The subject of analysis is focused on a specific architectural theme which varies each year. Recent years included housing (2021) and public buildings (2020). 2022 and 2023 have taken the theme “Nordic Women,” engaging projects designed by women from across the last century, broadening the architectural perspective by illuminating contributions from designers more likely to be hidden in the Nordic canon.
Seven buildings, all outstanding projects on a range of scales and with different design philosophies, from each of the Nordic countries will be studied in groups and analyzed in depth. Projects will be understood through making multiple types of models as well as images, collages, and text. This analysis is intended to develop and clarify concepts of Nordic architecture and its makers, by examining and interpreting essential qualities of the buildings in their historic, spatial, and social contexts.
Projects
- Gjerdrum School, Oslo, Norway. Kristin Jarmund (2009)
- Vennesla Library and Culture House, Vennesla, Norway. Helen & Hard (2011)
- Kildeskovshallen, Gentofta, Denmark. Karen & Ebbe Clemmensen (1969)
- Nanset Church, Larvik, Norway. Elisabet Breen Fidjestøl (1974)
- St. Lawrence Chapel, Helskini, Finland. Anu Puustinen & Ville Hara (2010)
- Stacken Kollektivhus, Gothenburg, Sweden. Siv Carlsson & Birgitta Ekvall (1969)
- St. Görans Gymnasium, Stockholm, Sweden. Leonie Geisendorf (1960)
Course literature
These are optional readings that frame the larger issues and questions in the course. See project modules for readings specific for each project.
Claes Caldenby (ed.), Sweden: 20th-century architecture. München: Prestel, 1998.
Kjeld Kjeldsen (ed.), New Nordic: architecture & identity. Humlebæk: Louisiana, 2012.
Nils Ole Lund, Nordic architecture, Arkitektens forlag, 2008.
Gunilla Lundahl (ed.), Kvinnorum: Porträtt av Arkitekter. ArkitekturMuseet, 1991.
Gunilla Lundahl (ed.), Kvinnor Som Banade Väg. Byggforskningsrådet, 1992.
Wenche Findal Mindretallets mangfold. Kvinner i norsk arkitekturhistorie. Oslo: Abstrakt Forlag, 2004.
Ingebjørg Hage (2005) Reconstruction of North Norway after the Second World War – New Opportunities for Female Architects?, Acta Borealia, 22:2, 99-127.
Renja Suominen-Kokkonen The fringe of a profession : women as architects in Finland from the 1890s to the 1950s (1992)
Museum of Finnish Architecture. Profiles: Pioneering Women Architects from Finland, 1983.
Rahbek, Lv Lovetand, Svava Riesto, and Henriette Steiner, eds. ByWomen: A Guidebook to Everyday Architecture in Greater Copenhagen. IKAROS, 2022.
Bay, Helle, Lisbeth Pepke, Dorte Rathje, Nina Togern, and Jette Wagner, eds. Women in Danish Architecture. Copenhagen: Arkitektens Forlag, 1991.
(Books are available at the library at the School of Architecture, the University library, or on loan from the instructors.)
Course design
The course in Nordic architecture is three weeks long and the work will be communicated in a final exhibition curated by the students, opening on the last day of the course. The exhibition will complemented by a digital presentation and model record in Chalmers’ Open Digital Repository (ODR) /Model Archive.
The students will work in project groups of 5 or 6. The project groups will be pre-made and assigned one building each. All student groups will together be responsible for the layout, mounting and dismounting of the physical exhibition as well as coordinating content and layout in the digital presentation, and promoting them. For this purpose, the students will form a curating group.
The study tour or study trip is basically a series of study visits that give first-hand experience of Nordic buildings. The time assigned for this is Thursday 19th and Friday 20th January. The students plan – as a group - their own study tour, exactly what to see that broadens the view on Nordic Architecture, how much time to put into looking at the assigned project (if possible) and what to complement with. The study trip should if possible be done with one's own project group, or with students from other groups so as to give reflection and discussion. Optional is to prolong the trip using the weekend, which gives the possibility of a more extensive trip and maybe being able to visit the assigned project. Visiting the building you are studying gives another dimension to the research and is highly recommended, but it is also possible to choose buildings of similar character, size, period, function etc that relate to the project.
The first week introduces the course through a presentation of the projects and a series of lectures. It also includes group formation, preparations for the model building as well as planning and going on study tours. Literature studies, analytic drawings based on existing plans, sections, and other representations, as well as the study trip to the buildings (or relevant examples) are the basis for a deeper understanding and reflection.
The second week will be mostly dedicated to model building with analysis discussed in the first of several seminars. Students will formulate research questions for their projects and facilitate group discussion.
The third week will include model building, the second seminar, and concrete preparations for the exhibition. The course ends with an exhibition opening which includes a critique by the examiner.
Changes made since the last occasion
The digital presentation, which describes the projects through a simple series of model photos, replaces the digital exhibition format used in previous years.
Student-led research seminars replace the previous seminar format which featured an external guest. This year’s seminars require each group to share and reflect on their process and content while the work is ongoing, as well as tie each project to larger course themes about Nordic qualities.
Learning objectives and syllabus
At the completion of the course, each student should be able to describe some aspects of Nordic architecture, its conditions and character. Also to describe a number of Nordic architects and buildings and relate them to a cultural and historical context.
Examination
To pass the course the following is required: attendance and active participation in all aspects of group work: model building, seminars, study visits, reports, and final exhibition.
Grading:
For any student being present at all the lectures, trips, seminars and the model building the normal grade is 4. Lesser participation will result in the grade 3 or not passed. Exceptional contributions during the course in terms of teamwork, process, and/or outcome might result in the grade 5.
Participation grade is based on general participation in the course and based on the post-evaluation of the group work contract.
Deliveries
Each individual student shall deliver:
- Model reflection 1, Jan 16 (written)
- Model reflection 2, Feb 6 (written)
- Post-evaluation of group work contract, Feb 2 (written)
Each project group shall deliver:
- Group work contract, Jan 17 (written)
- List of study tour objects, Jan 22 (written)
- List of research questions, sources, and preliminary findings for one seminar (written, prior to seminar)
- 3 models of the project building (physical)
- Digital presentation of the building through models and text on https://projects.arch.chalmers.se/nordic-architecture-2/
- Documentation of models, in photos, text and references, uploaded on https://odr.chalmers.se/modellkammaren according to instructions
The whole group shall deliver:
- A physical exhibition with models and information, Feb 3
Course summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
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