EUR / ROME / ITALY
Benito Mussolini wanted to showcase the beauty of fascist ideology by creating a city with strong links to Roman building traditions and aesthetic ideals, using the symbols of the past to underpin the strength of his own political movement.
EUR was never completed, and today it instead represents the fast demise of fascism.
THE OLD TOWN / DRESDEN / GERMANY
The bombing of Dresden has divided historians, in the same way that the subsequent restructure of the destroyed buildings has caused debate among design theorists.
Is the “new” Old town of Dresden to be an expression of ahistorical kitsch, or a triumph of the will?
SKOGSKYRKOGÅRDEN / STOCKHOLM / SWEDEN
In this forest cemetery, inaugurated in 1940, most of the graves are placed among trees in a deep forest, in this way interlacing human existence with the organic shapes of nature. Skogskyrkogården is an emotional landscape, where the visitors’ sombre mood is softened by diligent and careful architectural planning.
The sorrow after losing someone is met with a softness and serenity in both the layout of the landscape and in the beauty of the buildings.
MUSÉE NATIONAL FERNAND LÉGER / BIOT / FRANCE
Artist Fernand Léger was an optimist and saw great potential in all things modern. His work is instantly recognizable through his very personal interpretation of cubism.
This state-owned museum honours his legacy and brings knowledge of his contribution to the modern art world to the public.
MUSEO GUGGENHEIM / BILBAO / SPAIN
As part of an initiative from the Basque government, the art museum was built to revitalize the town of Bilbao, attract tourists with an interest in culture while also redefining the formerly industrial city as something else, more vibrant.
Today, Guggenheim Bilbao is equally known for its exhibitions as for its architecture.
M/S MARITIME MUSEUM / ELSINORE / DENMARK
The museum structure is aligned with Alexander Dorner’s vision of ‘atmosphere rooms’, which provide immersive experiences for the visitor, while also engaging the history of the site and utilizing the architecture itself to tell a story of the maritime world and its conditions.
SWEDISH GRACE / STOCKHOLM / SWEDEN
In the 1920s, an intense debate on form and design took place in Sweden. The traditionalists found inspiration in antique Greece and Rome, as well as in the Swedish Gustavian style of the 18th century.
Their aim was to create objects of the highest quality and most beauty.
CASE STUDY E-1027 / ROQUEBRUNE-CAP-MARTIN / FRANCE
This modernist masterpiece is not only of great architectural importance, it is also a manifestation of the love between architects Jean Badovici and Eileen Gray: “E” stands for “Eileen”, “10” and “2” for his initials while “7” correlates with the alphabetical position of the letter “G”. It was a house that presented bold new design ideals, but also for the couple to share a life in.
SANKT PETRI CHURCH / KLIPPAN / SWEDEN
One of most original features of the church is the design of the christening font.
The font itself consists of a giant mussel, transported to Klippan from the Indian Ocean.
From a tap placed above the mussel, and dripping into the crack in the floor, there is a continuous drip of water, representing the never ceasing grace of God.
NIMIS / KULLABERG / SWEDEN
The sculpture, possible to climb on and even walk through, is illegal, as it is against the law to build anything in a natural reserve.
The legal aspect has become part of the artwork itself, as the artist Lars Vilks explored art as a kind of process, expanding with every new interaction and encounter.
STOCKHOLM METRO / STOCKHOLM / SWEDEN
The Stockholm metro is often referred to as the world’s longest art exhibition. The system stretches over 110 kilometres, and travellers can follow the historical developments in the art world as they go from one station to another, from the ideological messages from the 1950s, via the postmodern times of the 1980s to today’s more experimental and explorative period.
MAXXI / ROME / ITALY
Designed by Zaha Hadid, the museum offers an almost unique experience to its visitors. The best word to describe a visit to MAXXI is “surprise”, as one can never be sure of what new angle, perspective or play with space awaits around the corner.