{"id":77650,"date":"2020-03-10T09:45:44","date_gmt":"2020-03-10T07:45:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/production.defectradar.com\/construction-nordic-region\/"},"modified":"2023-01-19T15:56:59","modified_gmt":"2023-01-19T13:56:59","slug":"construction-nordic-region","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.planradar.com\/gb\/construction-nordic-region\/","title":{"rendered":"Construction in the North – The Nordic approach to building"},"content":{"rendered":"

The sparsely populated Nordic countries have many inspired, unusual and intelligently designed buildings<\/strong>. Danes, Swedes and Norwegians turned life in a harsh, cold, grey and wet climate into a way of life the rest of the world aspires to achieve. Construction in the North is truly worth a closer look.
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\nNordic customs centred on well-being, such as \u201chygge<\/a>\u201d, \u201cfika<\/a>\u201d and \u201clagom<\/a>\u201d have become buzzwords. They are the subject of countless publications all over the world. How do Northern folk manage to lead a balanced, happy existence? How are they the happiest people in the world year in year out? Even though they get so very little sunlight, nature\u2019s best and cheapest cure for a foul mood? In other words, what exactly is it that sets these nations apart?<\/strong><\/p>\n

For one, a deeply rooted appreciation for design, art and aesthetics.<\/strong> Their love of nature is nurtured from early childhood. The great, green and icy expanse of Scandinavia is treasured and respected by those who are lucky enough to call it home. There are no blasphemous edifices marring the landscape. There is no excessive cutting down of trees. It is a part of the globe that has historically led the way in sustainable<\/a> living and continues to do so today.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"PlanRadar_Construction<\/p>\n

HOW DID THE SCANDINAVIAN STYLE COME TO BE?<\/h2>\n

Still, until the late nineteenth century there wasn\u2019t much in the way of ground-breaking architecture north of Berlin. There were pretty castles, cathedrals and major buildings \u2013  mostly in the styles the locals had imported from abroad<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The architect of the historical seafront neighbourhood of Christianshavn in Denmark\u2019s charming capital, Copenhagen, designed it to resemble Dutch cities of the early 17th<\/sup> century<\/strong>. Local styles consisted of buildings by those who had not had any formal training. The buildings were often made out of wood, stone and brick. Their construction reacted to the challenges of being so far north \u2013 very little sunlight, lots of rain and cold, dark winters<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

In the early 20th<\/sup> century formally trained architects began to reject the prevalent historical approch. These people combined new international trends and technologies with their heritage. They created a new, clean style. It would in turn influence<\/a> the design of our cities and homes until this very day. Without the advent of Scandinavian minimalism in the early 1900s there would be no IKEA<\/a> today.<\/p>\n

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NEW NORDIC CONSTRUCTION<\/h2>\n

Enter the 21st<\/sup> century. The creativity and engineering prowess of Nordic engineers and designers is at its peak. But the basic principles of Scandinavian design have not changed much since its founders established it in the early 20th<\/sup> century. <\/strong>This is what makes it so enduring and popular. The designs of Alvar Aalto, Arne Jacobsen and J\u00f8rn Utzon, big or small, have stood the test of time. Therefore, they have become classics in the most literal sense, not just defining cityscapes but also gracing countless homes across the globe.<\/p>\n

Nordic states have been predominantly socialist since the 1930s. That structure stands to this day. It requires quality housing for all. Public buildings must be made accessible to anyone<\/strong>. The lack of sunlight ensured that whatever was built had large windows and was open to the outside. This practice resulted in beautifully lit, human-scaled spaces.<\/p>\n

All these design principles dictate that the product (or building) be functional. It must have simple and clean lines, exist in harmony with its environment and last, rather than be replaced.<\/strong> The cruelty of Nordic nature doesn\u2019t allow for much leeway, so functionalism<\/strong> made perfect sense. The limited availability of materials means that those at hand need to be moulded to perfection.<\/p>\n

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The cornerstones  of Scandinavian design: <\/strong><\/h3>\n