TAKE NORD SHAPE: Northern vision of architecture and design

Scandinavia has become a trademark with a reference comparable only to Swiss made. This does not only pertain to winter sports, household equipment, communications technology, and means of transport. Technological advancement is intertwined with the sophistication of the social structure, and many social processes are as inspiring as the IKEA department stores. The roots of this Nordic exceptionalism can be traced back to the history of individual countries, cultural conditions, and a very specific aspect that should be addressed in this analysis is the uniqueness of natural and climatic conditions. The resulting particular sensitivity to nature creates a kind of natural corrective that shapes fundamental ideological approaches, as well as motivates everyday practices. It constitutes one of the common Scandinavian characteristics, which is certainly most visible in architecture and design.
The exhibition Take Nord Shape presents individually defined expressions of three creators who confirm this general characteristic. Samuli Naamanka is a designer and technological innovator. Dagur Eggertsson and Sami Rintala form a creative duo that navigates between visual art and architecture. Each of them is a distinct and respected personality on the international scene. Although they share several circumstances (country of origin - Finland or year of birth - 1969), they have not yet had the opportunity to meet and work on an exhibition project that would showcase their work so far while simultaneously providing a space for mutual combination of both creative perspectives and ideas. The unique opportunity arose with an exhibition in Brno, which introduces the Czech audience to the Nordic vision of architecture, design, and public space.

Sami Rintala (born 1969) completed his studies in architecture in Helsinki in 1999 (professor Juhani Pallasmaa) and since then has received numerous accolades. In 1998, he founded the architectural studio Casagrande & Rintala, which from 1998 to 2003 was at the forefront of many highly rated projects. Rintala and Casagrande have jointly created several critically acclaimed architectural installations worldwide, often on the occasion of art exhibitions and workshops. Their work combines architecture with a critical perspective on society, nature, and the essence of the architect's work, while their artistic practice is based on interplays between styles and utilizes space, light, various materials, and the human body as expressive means.
In 2008, Rintala founded a new architectural studio along with Icelandic architect Dagur Eggertsson, naming it Rintala Eggertsson Architects. The studio has branches in Oslo, southern Norway, and northern Norway in Bodø. Sami Rintala's work is based on narrativity and conceptualism. The resulting piece is a multi-layered interpretation of physical, psychological, and poetic influences in a given space.
A significant part of Sami Rintala's work involves lecturing at universities focused on architecture and design. His teaching usually takes place in the form of workshops, where students participate in creating spaces according to assignments in a realistic scale of 1:1. He is currently a professor at AHO Arkitekthögskolen in Oslo and at NTNU Trondheim.

Dagur Eggertsson (born 1965) gained professional experience in many leading studios in Oslo. After receiving his diploma from the Oslo School of Architecture in 1992, he began collaborating with architect Vibeke Jenssen under the umbrella of NOIS Architects. In 1996, he completed postgraduate studies at the Helsinki University of Technology, where he also began experimenting with the construction of large-scale architectural objects under the guidance of professor Juhani Pallasmaa. Alongside his professional career, Eggertsson teaches architecture in Norway, Iceland, and Sweden. He is currently serving as the lead and evaluator of projects at the Oslo School of Architecture and Design.

Samuli Naamanka (born 1969) is known as a versatile designer whose work combines a carefully chosen formal vocabulary with creative technological innovations. He studied graphic design in Rovaniemi and interior and furniture design at the University of Art and Design in Helsinki, graduating as an interior architect in 2000. Naamanka, besides product and interior design, also engages in environmental design. Among other things, he is a pioneer in the development of concrete products. This work has resulted in several patents in the field of graphic pattern technology in concrete and its coloring in various shades. The exhibition Take Nord Shape presents a wide range of Naamanka's work. Among the exhibits is the award-winning Clash chair, whose stylish seat is shaped from molded wood. The exhibition includes photographic documentation of architectural solutions by Samuli Naamanka, his environmental creations, and artworks in public spaces. His works reference history, nature, and the architecture of the places where they are located, as well as their symbolism. Samuli Naamanka received a building award from the Finnish foundation Julkisivuyhdistys in 2004 for developments in graphic processing of concrete, and in 2005 he was awarded the SIO prize as furniture designer of the year. His most recent accolade is the Nordiska Design Prize from 2008.