Nordic Pavilion at 2021 Venice Architecture Biennale: What We Share

The Nordic Pavilion at the 2021 Venice Architecture Biennale, titled "What We Share. A model for cohousing?", is a full-scale architectural installation designed by the firm Helen&Hard. Curated by Martin Braathen of the National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design in Oslo, the pavilion explores the concept of cohousing and what people are willing to share. The design resulted from interactions with citizen groups, collaboration with Swiss engineer Herman Blumer, and an Austrian wood company. Helen&Hard, recently shortlisted for the EU Mies van der Rohe Award, focuses on sustainable construction and new community living models. The Nordic cohousing model, developed between the late 1960s and early 1970s, combines single-family homes with social utopia, featuring fully equipped private apartments and shared common spaces. Braathen notes that during the pandemic, cohousing helped alleviate isolation by providing social opportunities while maintaining infection prevention. He believes domestic architecture will evolve post-pandemic to include home offices, new spatial layouts, and enhanced comfort and technology. The pavilion opens on May 21, 2021, at the Biennale Architettura di Venezia.