Retracing Cultural Connections With An Artistic Approach For The Venice Architecture Biennale

Bjørnådal Arkitektstudio's ‘Il primo cerchio del paradiso’ emphasizes issues like climate change, while addressing the Biennale's theme.

Designers:
Bjørnådal Arkitektstudio

Text description provided by the architects*

A full circle of cultural connectivity

With ‘Il primo cerchio del paradiso’, Hans-Petter Bjørnådal retraces the cultural connections between his native Norway and Venice dating back to 1432, when a North Sea storm altered the voyage of a Venetian merchant ship that had set sail for the Netherlands. After finding refuge on a small island off the Norwegian coast, the ship’s captain indulged in the cultural and geographic wonder of a place he would characterize as “Paradise’s first circle”.

As dried Norwegian cod found a receptive market in Venice, the fishing trade became a staple of cultural connectivity between the two countries. By exploring Norway’s communication with the outside world, ‘Il primo cerchio del paradiso’ is Bjørnådal’s interpretation of those connections, both past and present, with a strong emphasis on current issues such as climate change, environmental consciousness, and the merits of returning to a simpler way of life.

“The project is a Norwegian gesture of simple living, but also a reflection of our current need for a shift in direction and consciousness in order to address climate change,” explains Hans-Petter Bjørnådal, Lead Architect of the firm bearing his name, “The essence of the message is that a simple life, in harmony with nature, is still a viable path to discovering paradise.”

The ties that bind

Within the broad context of the exhibition’s “Time Space Existence” theme, Bjørnådal embarked on his interpretation of the natural simplicity of connections established long ago by the fish trade. His work is an artistic blend of two traditional methods employed for drying fish in Norway, as well as a tribute to the men who set sail between the two nations in the form of a wooden hull, reminiscent of early trade ships. Constructed of pine and steel wires, and measuring 5m high and 2.9m wide, the work incorporates the free hexagon geometry of Nordic building traditions in interpreting nearly 600 years of connectivity in a simplistic form.

“The fishing trade has endured for centuries as a foundation of cultural connectivity between Norwegians and Venetians, and it is based on a very simple connection to our natural environment,” Bjørnådal adds , “Every restaurant in Venice has a recipe for dry cod, or clipfish, and Venetian recipes for gratinated fish with macaroni have been repatriated to Norway and have become national dishes.”

A sustainable emphasis

To further emphasize Hans-Petter Bjørnådal’s sentiments toward greater environmental awareness, he worked closely with a firm called Rebiennale to procure the necessary materials for building ‘Il primo cerchio del paradiso’. Rebiennale is a collaborative project comprising a network of Venetian citizens, students, architects, artists, and political activists who exchange ideas, methods, and skills to build creative works using recycled materials derived from past iterations of the Venice Biennale Exhibition.

“I spent 10 days in Venice erecting the finished product with my team, but this project is two years in the making due to the event’s postponement last year,” ” he adds Hans-Petter Bjørnådal, “Every restaurant in Venice has a recipe for dry cod, or clipfish, and Venetian recipes for gratinated fish with macaroni have been repatriated to Norway and have become national dishes.”

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