contrapunctus cantus fractibilis” –
“transit tundra architectura”
Svalbard offers demanding climatic conditions, as premises for life
and living.
The permafrost in tundra and geology is challenging to infrastructure
and buildings.
The landscape is vulnerable and human impact leaves permanent traces
in the surface if not careful.
This aspect is reflected in legislations and leads to a number of restrictions
as to where you can go outside the settlements to several protected
areas.
The arctic is the land of the polar bear, and we humans have to behave
on the premises of nature itself.
By searching for small clues and marks on surface both in landscape,
climatic conditions, flora and fauna, I wanted to get closer to an arctic
identity that could possibly be translated into an architectural language.
- Can architecture evolve from nature?
- Can identity of flora and fauna be translated into applied materiality
in Architecture?
- Can architecture make use of the climate and seasonal variations
to give better conditions?
- Can architecture store and utilize natural energy resources the
same way as vegetation and adapted mammals do?
- Can architecture communicate with historical protected remains
to give a new understanding of the relationship with history and yet
underline continuity in a future direction?
I have chosen a part of Longyear City at Spitsbergen, Svalbard as
my scientific area.
It stretches from the airport towards the city centre. I have focused
on the Burma Road along the cultural historical remains of the elevated
cable car between the sorting plant and the shifting station.
My focus is the permanent residents of Longyear City, – human
vs landscape.
- How can Architecture reflect and emphasize their surroundings and
everyday life as adapted to the Arctic?
- Can Architecture be placed and integrated in the middle of cultural
historical protected areas?
