The following pages and films were originally intended to present the Architecture Uprising in Norway as a clash between opinionated aesthetes and pragmatic architects and developers. However, after in-depth conversations with a variety of experts – the leader of a grassroots movement, a city planner, and architects – I decided that a very influencing aspect of my subject was the balance of contrast. Or, more precisely, how the stark difference between old-fashioned and cutting-edge modern architecture can lead to a debate about more than just aesthetics.
Featuring a variety of clips, the series is intended to introduce a wider audience to the topic of architectural aesthetics and heritage. By researching, analysing, and challenging our rooted assumptions, the film aims to identify how our built environment affects us throughout our lifetimes as well as across generations. It is therefore fundamental to practitioners' research to ensure people are included, and perhaps even more crucially, informed of the full complexities associated with architecture's history. It is one thing to have an appreciation for aesthetics and beauty, but another to determine what kind of appearance and historical anchoring a building should have. The following films may provide insight into how political and historical conditions can influence the building industry's reluctance to focus on aesthetics and implement classical methods. From this knowledge, hopefully, interesting discussions can unfold about when to break with the past and when to adhere to it.
Similar to how Architecture Uprising came about: rather than merely living with it, one must put words to it.
By Victoria Minos (2023)