Date:
Location: Helsinki , Finland
The NORDIK 2025 conference “Why so Nordic? The 'Nordic' as fact and fiction in art history” is organized by NORDIK – The Nordic Association for Art Historians in collaboration with the University of Helsinki, Faculty of Arts, Department of Cultures, Art History.
Helsinki, 20th-22nd October 2025
Call for papers for the session "Architecture in Sápmi"
A growing interest in Indigenous architecture is emerging internationally. This interest encompasses architecture designed by, with, or for Indigenous communities, as well as the impact of non-Indigenous and colonial architecture. In the Nordic countries, a new interest in Sámi architecture has developed over the past decade, though studies on the subject remain limited and fragmented. Studies on architecture in the Nordic countries have rarely aimed to transcend national frameworks, thus Sámi architecture has also been obscured as a transnational phenomenon.
As part of an initiative by the Architecture and Design Museum Helsinki, the National Museum of Norway, and ArkDes we are collaborating on a project to explore both Sámi architecture specifically, and architecture in Sápmi from a broader perspective.
We are seeking papers that discuss how architecture and architectural culture in Sápmi have developed and evolved through interactions with, in spite of, and as a result of various nation-state geopolitical strategies from the 17th century to the present. We welcome studies of all scales, from small vernacular structures that respond to different local contexts and geographies to infrastructure and regional industrial, extractive operations.
Session chairs:
Carlos Mínguez Carrasco, Chief Curator, ArkDes, Stockholm
Petteri Kummala, Head of Research, Architecture and Design Museum, Helsinki
Bente Aass Solbakken, Senior Curator, The National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design
Proposals must be in English and include a title, abstract of the theme/subject of the presentation (max. 300 words), and keywords plus a short author bio (max. 100 words), and contact information.
Please submit your proposal to session chair Bente Aass Solbakken (bente.solbakken@nasjonalmuseet.no) by 28th of February 2025.
Keywords: Sámi architecture—indigenous architecture—architecture in Sápmi—colonialism and architecture—decolonising architecture
