Nordic Countries (Finland, Norway, Sweden) 2021

Title: What We Share. A model for cohousing
Commissioners: Stina Høgkvist, The National Museum in Norway, Arja-Liisa Kaasinen, Museum of Finnish Architecture, MFA Kieran Long, ArkDes: Swedish national centre for architecture and design
Curator: Martin Braathen, The National Museum in Norway
Exhibitors: Helen & Hard Architechts, Anna Ihle

The project is based on the cohosing project Vindmøllebakken in Stavanger. Vindmøllebakken is designed by Helen & Hard, and is a unique commercial housing project based on resident participation and sustainable solutions. The project won the Norwegian government’s award for building quality in 2020. At Vindmøllebakken the residents have relatively small but fully equipped apartments, several shared facilities and spaces, and a vibrant local democracy.

Visitors to the Pavilion in Venice are able to walk through and explore a cross-section of a prototype cohousing project that includes communal and private areas. Initiating a conversation about the social and political aspects of co-living, the exhibition also presents a video by artist Anna Ihle, who is a resident of Vindmøllebakken.A digital version of the exhibition will be available on nasjonalmuseet.no from the opening date of 22 May