We are finished

Over the past months we have been hosting the Nordic pavilion. We have been open for 79 full days, during which our guests could see the workings of and communicate with in total some 75 architects associated with 12 different practices. Our daily updated blog has had visits from 78 countries. We like to think that this is in direct line with the general theme of this year's Venice biennale, "People meet in architecture", and hope that it will contribute to a broader understanding of how architecture could work. As a summary, you will find below one picture of each of the weeks At Work With has been open. After that, you will find all the blog posts in the regular reversed order, starting with the newest post, and ending with the oldest post.

Office party

The press and opening days were turned into an office party. We served cold beer from the fridge, played loud music, with occasional announcements, and sung some karaoke in the evenings.

Economy

In order to spark discussion, Economy directed their and the visitors' attention to the making of a film. A circular rotating disc was turned into a stage that was constantly filled with modelling paraphernalia, making one lapse a day and architecture into a party.

Packed up

The pavilion is back to its original state again. It took just a day for our technician Markus Eberle and Swedish Museum of Architecture curator Karin Åberg Waern to dismantle the exhibition and make it ready for shipment back to the North.

Night falls

Night falls over the Nordic pavilion.

Film project

And how did the film turn out? Like this! This is an on-going film project by Economy, mixing architectural model work, imaginary landscapes and associative film-production. A project were the set moves and the camera is fixed.

Good times

Final Day in the pavilion. Finishing some sets, filming, doing an interview for RUM and talking to people. Hoping that the lovely people from Conditions will have an as wonderful week as we have enjoyed. Spending the last night cleaning out, screening our work from the week and having drinks with people from the Finnish, Australian and British pavilions. Good times.

After work

We invited all pavilion workers over for an after work beer. Here is the English team discussing the latest news in contemporary architecture.

Film still

Mixing architectural model work, imaginary landscapes and associative film production, we are working on an on-going film project were the set moves and the camera is fixed. A 75 cm circular board is mounted on a disco-ball motor rotating with a speed of 1,5 revolutions per minute. Each day we build a new set and record one rotation. These film clips are then edited together.

The film wheel

We are hard working on setting up our rig for shooting, complete rebuild today. In the background we show Zombieland becoming the most popular pavilion amongst the many teenage visitors.

Work vs play

Getting any kind of proper work done in the Nordic pavilion during the Biennale has proven to be a challenge. Constant disruptions and cleaning, cooking, opening, closing. Worst of all are the visitors, standing over your shoulder too scared to talk or even worse, searching the surface of the desk trying to locate a work of art. This is of course taking things completely the wrong way. The real problem with work today is that we are addicted to efficiency, setting up goals and perfecting the way to get there. We seriously need to re-consider and say goodbye to cybernetics. Feedback sucks. Who, seriously, wants to work in a loop? The dependence of "good work" or "good projects" is a trap. Precisely because they exclude any other kind of work. Who stands up for bad projects, half-good ideas and misguided attempts? This week we are getting in over our heads in whimsical work. If we come to a fork in the road, we take it. Bring on the collapse of multitasking and we welcome attention deficit disorder. On the way we are accidentally meeting wonderful people. They all happen to be visitors.

Lecture / presentation

Economy arranged a presentation for the first year students from the School of Architecture in Stockholm, talking about At Work With, the role of the architect in contemporary society and the importance of Tex-Mex Architecture.

Live from Venice

Welcome to Economy. During our residency week at the Venice Biennale from the 28 of September to the 3 of October, we broadcasted live during the whole week using Ustream. Stay tuned.

Still some beer in the fridge

End of the day beer with some Swedish 70's classics like Moviestar by Harpo, Hooked on a Feeling by Blue Swede and Bang a Boomerang with Svenne & Lotta (the original version, believe it or not).

Claes talks

We ask the all knowing blog edititor of Swedish magazine Arkitektur Claes Sörstedt for what to see and where to eat.

At Home With

Which is the best space in the Biennale? Ask the editorial team at Domus, who spent five hours with us, typing away to the music of Jorge Ben.

Last day of Markus

This is the last day with our technician Markus. We will miss you.

Bandolin at our desk

Artist, professor and Biennale exhibitor Gunilla Bandolin prepares a lecture at our table.

Easy money

One more of our tricks to get the audience to stay longer. Did we learn anything from mall strategies? Yes, a lot. Signals in levels, tight passages, the bargain deal, desire.

Hungover?

15 minutes after Biennale opening, and already at sleep in our lunge couch (but just smiling at the camera).This will be a slow day.