Mouthful of Meetings –
South of North Virtual Dinner

Friday 19th September 2014
17:00-20:00 CEST,
Corderie dell’Arsenale, Stage D

 

A moderated conversation at the 14th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia. South of North is a Nordic collaboration project between twelve young architecture practices working in the non-profit sector in developing regions. In September 2014 the network organised a discussion “Mouthful of Meetings” as part of the 14th International Architecture Exhibition, La Biennale di Venezia. Eight Nordic and African participants were invited to discuss contemporary African urban development and the impacts of small scale architectural interventions. Mouthful of Meetings Discussion participants Peter Makachia (Technical University of Kenya) Mokena Makeka (Makeka Design Lab / South Africa) Maxwell Mutanda (CA´ASI, Young Architects in Africa exhibition / Zimbabwe) Tomà Berlanda (Active Social Architecture / Rwanda) Victoria Wallden (White Architects / Sweden) Daniel Harald Baumann (Henning Larsen Architects / Denmark) Helena Sandman (Ukumbi, South of North / Finland) Ina B. Sem-Olsen (Rå Arkitektur, South of North / Norway) Find more at www.southofnorth.info

Mouthful of Meetings was a discussion organized as part of the 14th International Architecture Exhibition, the Venice Biennale, inviting contemporary African and Nordic architects to a cross-cultural dialogue on socially engaged architecture.

What are the challenges in Africa's current rapid socio-economic development that architects have the capacity to address? Can foreign architects play any role on the African continent today and during the coming decades? If so, how?

”Mouthful of meetings” brought together contemporary Nordic and African architecture practices and institutions with focus on socially committed architecture. The event was part of the programme of the Nordic Pavillion's exhibition 2014, ”Forms of Feedom. African Independence and Nordic Models”. 

Participants in the discussion

Peter Makachia, Technical University of Kenya
Mokena Makeka, Makeka Design Lab, South Africa
Maxwell Mutanda, Zimbabwe
Tomà Berlanda, Active Social Architecture, Rwanda
Victoria Walldin, White Architects, Sweden
Daniel Harald Baumann, Henning Larsen Architects, Denmark
Helena Sandman, HRS Architects, Finland
Ina B. Sem-Olsen, Rå Arkitektur, Norway

Moderators:
Andres Lepik, Architekturmuseum der Technische Universität Munchen
Justine Bell, South African architect

More information

contact@southofnorth.info
Pilvi Vanamo +46 763 525 736

 

Mouthful of Meetings PODCAST

A quick video of the "Mouthful of Meetings" in Venice, produced by Jyri Rasinmäki based on Anna Autio's documentation of the event. "It is an issue of rights, fundamental rights: right to architecture, right to good design, right to having my own piece of land at some point." Download the whole podcast from Soundcloud.

 

 

South of North Dialogues:
A Nordic-African Discussion of on Film

The South of North Dialogues was produced for and premiered at the "Mouthful of Meetings" in Venice. The film was produced by Justine Bell and Luke Apteker.

The Dialogues is an online discussion between Nordic and African architects Peter Rich, Helena Sandman, Mathias Spaliviero, Pilvi Vanamo, Inari Virkkala, Olwethu Jack, Daniel Harald Bauman, Rashiq Fataar and Ina B Sem Olsen, Mariam Kamara, Nina Berre and Nina Frang Hoyum.