mandag 18. juni 2012

The Exhibition Små Spor opened last Friday 15. June at Tromsø Gallery of Contemporary Art

 

(Graphic design: Kyrre Kalseth)


 

About the project Små Spor (small tracks):

The Norwegian Architects Association had its 100th anniversary last year and the local architects association NAF has held a series of events focusing on architecture and landscape architecture in the region.
Among the events held we can mention the "Landscapes in Change” conference, the "Seaside Promenade” cultural trek, the "Open House” event, the "Film + Architecture” event, the "Spire Box”, the "Pecha Kucha Night” architecture lecture and the architecture exhibition "Where is Tromsø going".
The events have created interest and debate in the city's population. They have also helped to awaken, to some extent, Tromsø´s awareness of urban planning and the importance of participation.
It is desirable that the commitment, awareness and knowledge of architecture does not disappear after last year's many celebrations, and that a good level of debate on architecture becomes the sequel to them.
We use the opportunity of the architecture exhibition "SPOR. Norwegian Architecture 2005-2010", which presents a selection of the best that Norwegian architects have produced in the past 5 years, and that only shows two projects from northern Norway, to show more local projects. "Små Spor" (small tracks) wants to help keep alive much of what has occurred through the NAL 100-year anniversary. Through this exhibition we want to create a lasting and more competent commitment to architecture / landscape architecture in Tromsø.
The exhibition shows arquitectural qualities in the North, small " pearls " from all over northern Norway.
The exhibition consist of a multimedia presentation that shows the map and pictures of the projects. A stand with 30 postcards (15 in english and 15 in norwegian) that show the picture of the projects on the front and the description in the back. There is also  a poem writting by a north norwegian writer on one of the walls.


Featured projects:

Passive House, Tromsø (Steinsvik arkitekter) Nordnorsk arkitekturpris 2007
Sykkelskur, Austvågøy (70°N arkitektur as) Nordnorsk arkitekturpris 2008
Rasteplass, Vestvågøy (70°N arkitektur as)  Nordnorsk arkitekturpris 2008
Ungdomshuset Straumanstua, Kleppstad (Jarmund / Vigsnæs AS Arkitekter) Nordnorsk arkitekturpris 2009 
Hamsum Senter, Hamarøy (Steven Holl architects) Nordnorsk arkitekturpris 2010
Lofoten Kulturhus og Thon Hotell, Svolvær (A3 arkitekter) Nordnorsk arkitekturpris 2011
Strandgata 22, Tromsø (Code: arkitekter).
Helleristinger, Kirkely (Kjersti Jenssen Arkitektkontor)
Parkeringstunt, Bodø (flere arkitekter)
Verdens minste Hotell, Kirkenes (Rintala Eggertsson architects)
Vulkana, Tromsø (Rintala Eggertsson architects)
Sabetjohk bru, Birtavarre (Ghilardi+Hellsten Arkitekter)
Sol og Vindhus, Trondenes (Arkitekt Jim Myrstad as)
Åpne Tanker, Hammerfest (arkitekter: Ingrid Neeraas Dahl og Christoffer Imislund)
Fuglekikkerskjul og vindskjul, Hornøya (arkitekter: Tormod Amundsen og Elin Taranger)

Facts:

The exhibition is organized by Michele R. Wideroe in cooperation with The Association of Northern Norwegian Architects
Graphic design: Kyrre Kalseth
Animation: Øyvind Oppshaug
Poem: Marianne Strand
Duration: 17min
Sponsored by: Troms Fylkesmommune, NAL, NAF, Kåfjord municipality, INTRO fond, Varanger Næringssenter, Odd Berg Gruppen, Total Renovering, 70N arkitektur.
Place: Tromsø Gallery of Contemporary Art

Installing the exhibition!

We were two days at the Kusntforening testing and preparing for the exhibition. The first Øyvind Oppshaug, who is the film producer in charge of the multimedia presentation, and I went to check that worked as it whould.  On the second day (see photos) Kyrre Kalseth, who not only was in charge of the graphics but also designed the stand for the postcards, went to prepare the rest before the media came.

(photo: Michele Widerøe)

In the media:

Joar Lillerust (leder of the North Norwegian Architect association)  and I were interviewed by the local newspaper iTromsø and by the regional newspaper Nordlys. The day before I was also interviewed by Hege Iren Hanssen from the local radio station NRK P1-P2.

(photo: Nordlys & iTromsø newspapers)

The opening!

The director of the Tromsø Gallery of Contemporary Art, Svein Ingvoll Pedersen opened this Summer 2012  exhibition by presenting the three exhibitions that will be at the gallery all summer. These are: Norwegian Contemporary Architecture 2005-2010 (SPOR): produced and toured by the National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, the artist Marius Martinussen a well know airbrush painter from Oslo, and Små Spor, North Norwegian Architectural Gems (produced by Michele Widerøe). Later I had the opportunity to present the idea behind Små Spor exhibition.  


(photo: Erik Widerøe)

Små Spor exhibition

(photo: Erik Widerøe)

People!

I am happy that so many people found their way to this exhibition even though it was friday and the sun was shining outside. 


(photo: Erik Widerøe)

Thanks! 

I would like to thank all the persons and institutions that made possible this exhibition. I couldn´t have done it without you. 


This exhibition is on tour now!

Follow the exhibition at:
http://smaspor.blogspot.no/

Wideroe has received funding from the Intro Foundation to conduct a pilot project where she will study the need and interest in a Center for Northern Norway Design and Architecture in Tromsø.

 
 (Photo: Nordlys newspaper)
During the next year, Wideroe will organize three architectural exhibitions and a design workshop. The first exhibition opens at Tromsø Kunstforening on June 15, on the subject of northern Norwegian architecture.
 

- I've always been interested in design and architecture, and when I came to Tromsø and Northern Norway 14 years ago I noticed that there was no place to turn for information on this subject. There is such a place in Oslo, DogA, but one cannot travel down there every time one needs information. Slowly, the idea matured, and now I'm on my way. smiled Widerøe.

During her years in Tromsø Michele has achieved a master's degree in art history, she has become an interior designer, and now she works at one of the city's architects office, and participates in Kvinnovasjon Troms and in Global Future porgram, a management training course  for foreign with higher education.

Need more positive forces

- After I joined the Kvinnovasjon program things began to take shape. It is difficult to say that "now I will start a design and Architecture center" when you do not know anyone. And, also, the fact that I think something is important does not mean other people think so, too. That is why I am now investigating whether there is an interest in this hoping for a good response, says Widerøe.

Having participated in the organization of the "architecture year" last year, she affirms:

- There came, among other things, 500 people and walked along the  seafront in the rain and strong wind! It shows that people care.

Through exhibitions and workshops Widerøe will create contacts, people she hopes would like to get on board. At the end of year activities she will have references and will be able to continue working toward the common goal of creating a design and architecture center.

- I cannot do this alone. I would really like to get in contact with the positive forces in the north; people who will find that this sounds interesting and perhaps will help. Currently, the North Norwegian Architecture Association is on the team, and this is great. There are both designers and architects of international class here in the region. But there is no common arena where their works can be presented. And there are lots of wonderful projects that deserve attention, Widerøe said.


Architecture and design for all

She wants a center for design and architecture that should focus on North Norway and the northern Norwegian architecture and that it should be open to crossover projects, available for people in general, both the man in the street, tourists, and those within the discipline.

Widerøe is aware that such a type of center can be costly.
- Renting a space for the center will be the most expensive . Hopefully we have a municipality that recognizes the need for such a center, which helps us with a place for it. So, we can spend the money on activities instead, she smiles hopefully, adding:

- But such a center doesn´t need to be big and expensive. The important thing is that there is a place that reflects what we have in this region.

Potential

Arne Wilhelm Theodorsen in Intro Fund says Widerøe’s idea of ​​a design and architecture center in the north is easy to support. Widerøe received 240,000 kroner from Intro to implement the pilot project.

- Michele has a good idea that can provide business benefit. She is very credible and has very good references, as well as she has pinpointed an obvious need, we have regionally. For a center to be created it requires initiative and we think Michele will implement the first phase of the project. It is beneficial for us in Intro. We support many projects in different cultural forms, it was time that we arrived on the scene also with design and  architecture, says Theodorsen.


The North Norwegian architecture prize

(Photo: Åse Pulk/NRK)
 The North Norwegian architecture prize was awarded yesterday (16. june.2012) in Tromsø at the annual meeting of the North Norwegian Architects Association 

The North Norwegian architecture prize was awarded yesterday (16. june.2012) in Tromsø at the annual meeting of the North Norwegian Architects Association 
The jury, which consisted of Kjerstin Uhre, Viggo Ditlevsen and Berit Steenstrup, was proud to award the North Norwegian Architecture Prize for 2012 to the Sami tent and hut. 
It is the first time in the history of the North Norwegian architecture prize that the prize is given to an entire building tradition and not to a specific building. 

(Photo: Michele Widerøe)

Jurys statement:

" The North Norwegian architecture prize for 2012 is given to a traditional and vibrant architectural concept. An architecture that is smart with respect to climate and energy, which has room for improvisation, which in its various forms can be both permanent and temporary. An architecture that is always in time, developed out of respect for the landscape through material optimization and ingenuity, with strong traditions and in constant transformation. An architecture that carries an important part of our land and is a part of our identity and history of the Sami "

(Photo: Michele Widerøe)

The North Norwegian Architecture Prize:

The North Norwegian Architecture Prize is awarded annually to projects with specific reference to, and of importance to the north Norwegian history, culture and environment.
It has been awarded 14 times, the  first time in 1974.
Some of the buildings that have received this prize are: Harald Mound camping Målselv (1974) Kautokeino Cultural Centre (1987), Sami Parliament building (2002), Hamsun Centre, Presteid in Hamarøy (2010), Lofoten Culture center and Thon Hotel, Svolvaer (2011)


Lecture

 (Photo: Michele Widerøe)

Every year the North Norwegian Architects Association´s invites an architect office to give a lecture at it´s annual meeting.  This year was Ecosistema Urbano from Madrid invited.

Ecosistema Urbano is an innovative spanish office that focuses on understanding the city as a complex phenomenon, from an interdisciplinary point of view between urbanism, architecture, engineering and sociology. The office defines his interest as "creative urban sustainability", which means that they try to respond to the current situation through innovation, creativity and comprehensive action.
Ecosistema urbano has received more than 30 awards since 2000, and teaches at the most prestigious institutions around the world. In 2010 they were invited to the World Expo in Shanghai (World Expo) with its project Air Tree is an experimental interactive public space. Currently they are working with an urban project to the Square in Hamar, where a broad participation and network design process has been completed in autumn 2011 called Dream Hamar. (taken from www.doga.no)






søndag 17. juni 2012

Sharing

It is very important to share our knowledge about norwegian Design and Architecture with others. 

  



Presenting the projects of the architect firm 70N arkitektur (my work place in Tromsø) at the Fundación Ludvig, Havana, Cuba, 2010
(foto: Erik Widerøe)
 






Lecture about the norwegian designer Peter Opsvik at the Insituto Superior de Diseño (ISDI),  Havana, Cuba, 2010
(foto: Giselle Gil)







Lecture about contemporary norwegian design and architecture at Centro de divulgación de diseño, arquitectura y urbanismo, Havana, Cuba, 2011
(foto: Erik Widerøe)






 
Exhibition about Sami Rintala. A finish architect living and working in Norway at the CUJAE (Architect faculty), Havana, Cuba, 2012
(foto: Erik Widerøe) 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is also important for me to share my knowledge about Cuba with others.

 


Presenting the concept of Havana´s urban gardening (cuban organoponics) Tromsø, Norway,  2011
 (foto: Erik Widerøe)

tirsdag 12. juni 2012

Marjetica Potrc talk in Tromsø


What does an Amsterdam neighborhood have in common with Caracas?

(photo: Michele R. Widerøe)

Last week I had the opportunity to assist to a seminar by the slovenian artist and architect Marjetica Potrc, here in Tromsø. She talked about two projects. The first one an ecologically safe dry toilet in Caraca`s and the other one a community garden in an immigrant neighborhood in Amsterdam.
In the course of her presentation, not only did she talk about these wonderfull projects but analysed them getting to a conclution that the tactics used in these projects can help  in the articulation of the tactics for the future cities.