SEHNSUCHT (Longing)
In 2019, Norway will be the Guest of Honour at the Frankfurt Book Fair. As Guest of Honour, Norway will have a 2300 m2 indoor pavilion. In January 2018, Norwegian Literature Abroad (NORLA), in collaboration with The Norwegian Centre for Design and Architecture (DOGA) and The Norwegian Architectural Association (NAL), announced an open design competition for the design of the pavilion. In June, the results of the competition were released, with Rodeo awarded the 2ndprice and design purchased.
About the proposal
The project seeks to create a dialogue between Norwegian nature and culture, as well the literature’s longing and entry to another universe.
The blue pavilion represents the Norwegian ocean and mountains, and marine history.
The golden pavilion tells the story of the tactile environment, like the Norwegian forests, the role of the agriculture both in the landscape and identity, and the intimate experience and discovery in literature.
The pavilions also conceptualise two of the most popular books coming from Norway the pasts years, Shark Drunk by Morten A. Strøksnes and The History of Beesby Maja Lunde.
The pavilions cater for flexible usage that can be adapted along the festival programme, while allowing the visitors to explore the rooms on their own. The flexibility in the usage mirrors the reader, where each reader will interpret a story individually. Furthermore, the structures are made of modules, so that the pavilions easily can be disassembled and reassembled throughout the book fair year.
The structures are made of wood veneer and wool fabric, materials with a long tradition in Norway.