Interview Fantastic Norway: 'There will always be grumpy old men!'

Geschreven door Luuk Imhann

zaterdag, 29 januari 2011 07:00

Architectuur is Funki! Ik had een exclusief interview met Erlend Blakstad Haffner, meester in de architectuur en partner van Fantastic Norway. Een uitwisseling over one-liners, experimentele muziek en projecten op grote en kleine schaal.

What would you say is the difference between a architect and a designer? (Or isn't there any?)
I think there is a tremendous difference! Architects traditionally deal with a larger picture. To say it simple I would say that architecture is bad if it’s a one-liner. It should be able to evolve with the use and user and have several layers of content. Design is different; first of all it could be good if it’s a one-liner and might need to to be noticed.

Architecture defines which functionality the outcome should perform, split the functionality between components, set how components should behave and communicate in the context, set the physical location of components and finally choose the components in order to create the end product.

While architecture deals with the wide picture, design should drill down in to the details creating a specific component. Designing of components should end up with the given component task.

The work of Fantastic Norway incluedes small projects like a building filled with carboard clouds, and larger ones like the refurnishment of an old theatre into a jazz- and world music stage. Do you prefer the small projects or the larger ones?
We take great joy in doing both, in the small temporary projects we can test ideas fast and in the larger work with more complex situations. It was interesting to work with turning the old theatre into a jazz venue. The budget was extremely limited and the whole project happened on site. A few months ago the venue proclaimed the best venue for live music in Oslo. That was fantastic.

The company made a soundscape to celebrate the work of the recently deceased Norwegian composer Arne Norheim. In what way do music and design relate to each other? (And why a work for Norheim in particular?)
I guess there might be a connection in how we organize. We make pieces from bits and pieces. I think we choose Nordheim of ceveral reasons. I grew up with him and his music around and wanted to open experimental music to others through his work. Nordheim has composed many small pieces of “public” music. Things such as the pling plong in front of the news real and sounds for the radio. He had a great interest in architecture and was one of Svrerre Fehns best friends, it was a great joy working with him on the project because of his openness to new ideas.

You say on your website Fantastic Norway 'believes places are stichted together by the stories and lives of people living there'. Do you ever face resistance to your plans?
Yes. There will always be grumpy old men! But we try to win them over with our charm!

Could you name a few upcoming projects you'd like to share with us?
We are working on a soccer school in one of Rios favelas and a crazy project where we turn a dump into an amusement park. Very different scales and problematics.

Which then famous architect or designer made you want to become an architect? (And do you still like his/her work?)
My mom (Siri Blakstad) is an artist and there were always loads of architects and artists around when I grew up. My mother used to run a department of experimental textile / sculpture at the RCA in London and when she moved back to Oslo she bought a huge old wooden house. To afford the down payments she turned into some kind of artistic collective. She would welcome everyone from abroad to come and stay with us. Artists like Keith Jarret, Guerrilla Girls, Marianne Heske, Arne Nordheim, Jenny Holzer, Ken Frampton, Per Kartvedt, Cedric Price where frequent visitors. But I guess Peter Cook was the reason I became an architect, he used to teach architecture in Oslo and stayed with my mom when he was in town. First of all I remember him as a very witty person who loved his work. It was inspiring and still is I think. Peter never want to do the expected, his work is always a great surprise.

[Interview: Luuk Imhann met Erlend Blakstad Haffner]
[Eindredactie: Luuk Imhann]