How Nordic?

／Nordic Image

　“Nordic”, when you speak out this word, what image bumps into your mind? It’s really interesting that no matter people have been to Nordic countries before or not, and even they are in totally different backgrounds, they all have some similar images according to Nordic. Those common characters in Nordic image are including various aspects. What terms construct the Nordic images mostly are according to nature and a way of life, such as: forest, lake, snow, glacier, rocks, darkness, light, slowly life tempo, natural colors from materials, polite and realistic people, etc. In addition, in the Nordic image, it usually exists a typical kinds of wooden or brick house with simple shape, and pitched roof located in the beautiful landscape.

　Actually, not all the Nordic people agree this kind of image already represents Nordic. However, we can still get some information from these characters, and each of them tells us something. “Nature”, it reveals the basically geographic and climatic situations: high latitude with short daylight and glacier landscape in Temperate and Boreal Climates. Population is not extremely high. People who lives here need to gain their abilities to pass the cold and dark winter since hundreds or thousands years ago. In this relatively harsh climate, residents here find their way to live and respect the power and beauty from nature. Nordic people basically keep in a good and balance relationship with the environment.

　In my opinion, architecture comes from lifestyle. If you ask me “Nordic Architecture exists or not?” I would like to look back into how Nordic people live, those living modes make the foundation of society and architecture, because the most basic value that architecture offers to people is the shelter for surviving in surrounding environment. Architecture reveals the lifestyle, thinking and part of culture. For instance, sauna culture gives the hint of living closely to nature and offering social space in cold winter.

／Architecture Today

We walked backwards into the future

And no one understood what we said

And we leapt through the centuries

But no one heard if we were approaching or withdrawing

──Tone Hødnebø

　We benefit from globalization, but simultaneously numerous impact affects each of us. The boundary between different countries and cultures becomes vague, how can we identify ourselves in nowadays? When a building is designed by an architect far from the local, and he/she never been there before. Does this building also represent this nation and culture? When we say that architecture likes a mirror reflecting the era, it means that we believe a well-designed architecture always responds to local context and the culture where it locates.

　Just as what Honas Gahr Støre wrote in 《Made in Norway》: Architecture is, of course, also a cultural response. Architecture is never based on a single truth; it is never a fixed answer to a given set of conditions. Design involves making choices, and in those choices our natural, social and economic resources are transformed into an expression of our culture, which offers new possibilities. Buildings reflect the ideas, values and priorities of a society. Through our architecture, we demonstrate who we are, both as individuals and as a community. *1

　So, does “Nordic Architecture” still exists? I would like to say, “Yes, it does. Some characters have been kept or transformed through this long history.” Of course, the common image of Nordic architecture still gives us hints, like: simple, elegant, and full of craftsmanship. A warm atmosphere, texture of natural materials and colors. Being humble in the nature, and fits in landscape. I think this is why Nordic architecture stands in the front of sustainability issue all over the world, because in the base of Nordic lifestyle, people respect nature.

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Note:

*1. Honas Gahr Støre, page 7, 《Made in Norway》.