floornaturelive at the 2014 Biennale in Venice, Nordic pavilion.

Forms of Freedom. African Independence and Nordic Models – this is the title of the exhibition inside the always fascinating Nordic pavilion, constructed by Sverre Fehn in the Giardini venue of the Venice Biennale.



The exhibition “Forms of Freedom. African Independence and Nordic Models” is a co-production by the Norwegian Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, the Swedish Centre for Architecture and Design and the Museum of Finnish Architecture.
Here, like in the Chilean pavilion, we find ourselves faced with the elaboration of a not very distant past – the 1960s and 1970s. 





The space of the Nordic Pavilion explores the liberation of the East African countries of Kenya, Zambia and Tanzania. Despite their geographic distance, the African countries that had finally shrugged off their colonial status had very close ties with the Nordic countries that had no colonial-building past, but did have the widespread belief that their social democratic model and democratic progress after the second World War could be used as an example for nation-building.



This collaboration resulted in the construction of truly fine architecture, broken into two concepts in the exhibition "Forms of Freedom. African Independence and Nordic Models": “Building Freedom” explores nation-building through a master plan aimed at laying the fundamental foundations for a new, free nation; on the other hand, “Finding Freedom” targets the mutual contamination of style and architecture between the Nordic people and the African people, leading to new forms of expression.



The Pavilion created by Sverre Fehn shows visitors the finest Nordic social-democratic architecture built in East Africa. Architecture looking towards building a free, safe future based on the education of young generations. "Forms of Freedom" is an exhibition that showcases the highly political, incisive role of architecture in those years.



14th International Architecture Exhibitions - Fundamentals
dates: 7 June - 23 november 2014
location: Venice (Italy)
http://www.labiennale.org/
Images: © Gianluca Giordano

Exhibition produced by The National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, Norway
In collaboration with The Swedish Centre for Architecture and Design and The Museum of Finnish Architecture
The exhibition has been supported by
The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Nordic Culture Fund and Culture Point North
Exhibition architects: Space Group