Norwegians reached the final in the “European championship” in architecture – NRK Culture and Entertainment

– It is an absolutely incredible honour, says Geir Brendeland.

He and Olav Kristoffersen are professors of architecture at NTNU, and the brains behind the “Garden” project in the Swedish city of Lund.

It may look deserted now, but the garden will become part of a new district.

– The request was to create a place where people could meet, says Brendeland.

“Brendeland & Kristoffersen” was selected from among 362 nominees for the final in Europe’s most important architecture award: EU Mies.

– There is overall feedback from colleagues in Europe that we have done something good, says Brendeland.

But the prize of around NOK 700,000 went to the study pavilion in Braunschweig.

– Top five is an achievement in itself

Martin Braathen is senior curator at the National Museum and on the jury for the EU Mies prize.

– You are in the final of the European championship in architecture. This is absolutely the highest level, he explains.

Braathen has traveled across Europe to see the five finalists with his own eyes.

– To end up in the top five is an achievement in itself, he assures.

Only twice before have Norwegians been finalists for the award. Only once before have Norwegians won, for the Opera in Oslo.

The opera and the project “Garden” have one thing in common, believes Gaute Brochmann, editor of the journal Arkitektur:

– It is a social approach to architecture. It is very inviting to be used and become something more than what it is.

Europe’s most beautiful new building?

How has the garden in Lund reached this far?

– The building itself is well resolved, and then I think it is the function and what you think this house should be that has made it all the way to the final, says Brochmann.

He emphasizes that he has not been to Lund and seen the garden with his own eyes.

The architecture revolt is not as impressed:

– It has a very minimalist, simple expression which I think neither irritates nor excites people, says spokesperson for the movement, Saher Sooururi.