The tradition of sacred trees in the Nordic countries dates back to before the Viking Age. We see this tradition being carried for- ward from the furniture designs by the Golden Age designers, such as Arne Jacobson and Hans Wagner, to the modern approach to Nordic industrial products today. I am interested in the respectable use of wood by keeping it raw and democratic. Integrating the idea of the Nordic forest as the infrastructure of the Nordic Culture Center will provide a physical sense of Nordic identity within the spaces.

These spaces will act as a recreation of the unique seasonal lighting the Nordic countries experience. The cycle of long dark winter and short bright summer will be redefined using adjustable wood louvres. Breaking away from being a static form, it becomes an organism that is a part of the building, a skin that is constantly changing depending on the use and need. The goal of the Nordic Culture Center is to take the users through these series of experiential spaces that are representations of the Nordic nature.