About

The Escandinavia Symposium is a three-day event aimed at strengthening bonds between Danish and Spanish architectural cultures. Organized by the Aarhus School of Architecture, it provides a platform for educators, researchers and practitioners to meet, exchange knowledge and continue building upon shared values, vision, and challenges. The dialogue between Danish and Spanish architects will allow exploring more in-depth the multifaceted connection between European North and South and look at how the paths of inspiration developed in recent times.

Besides, it will serve to speculate how this mutual relationship could be further steered for the benefit of both regions. In this regard, the symposium has an additional purpose of unveiling and discussing emerging practices whose production preserves this common architectural legacy, combines it with a deep commitment to sustainable discourses, and projects a renewed architectural approach towards future generations.

The symposium is an activity promoted by the research project Escandinavia. An Architectural Dialogue between Denmark and Spain. Other activities related to the project were the exhibition With Love from Spain (in collaboration with The Utzon Center) and The Escandinavia Talks series.

Participants

Keynotes
Enrique Sobejano, professor, UDK Berlin.

Enrique Sobejano has worked as an architect since graduating from the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and the Graduate School of Architecture and Planning at Columbia University in New York in 1983. From 1986 to 1991, he was co-director of the architectural journal ARQUITECTURA, published by the Colegio Oficial de Arquitectos de Madrid. The study of Jørn Utzon is core in his academic interests, which resulted in several exhibitions and publications about the work of the Danish master. He has been a visiting critic and lecturer at various universities and participated in international conferences and juries. He is a founding partner of Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos, a Professor in Principles of Design at the Universität der Künste Berlin (UdK), and a permanent member of the Akademie der Künste Berlin (AdK).

Felix Solaguren-Beascoa, Dean Barcelona School of Architecture, ETSAB-UPC.

Félix Solaguren-Beascoa graduated as an architect from the Universidad Politécnica de Catalunya in 1980. He developed his academic career in the same University, becoming a PhD architect in 1986, a Professor in Architectural Projects in 2004, Head of the Department of Architectural Projects between 2004 and 2006, and Dean of the School of Architecture since 2017. He is an internationally renowned specialist in the life and work of Arne Jacobsen. His books and essays provide an extensive account of his work, becoming fundamental in the worldwide recognition of the Danish master. He has also supervised numerous doctoral theses on Nordic architecture. His international presence comprises lectures and research stays in Denmark, Sweden, Italy, the Netherlands, China, the United States, Germany, Portugal, Romania and Australia.

On practice
Francisco Cifuentes and Sebastiá Martorell: www.aulets.net
Frank Maali and Gemma Lalanda: http://www.mlas.dk/
Carles Oliver: https://divisare.com/authors/2144825785-carles-oliver
Søren Pihlmann: https://www.pihlmann.dk/

Speakers
Berta Bardí-Milà, Tenure-eligible lecturer, Serra Húnter Programme, ETSAB-UPC.
Frans Drewniak, Associate Professor, Royal Danish Academy.
Aida Espanyol Vilanova, PhD Fellow, Aarhus School of Architecture.
Jaime J. Ferrer Forés, Head of Department of Architectural Design, ETSAB-UPC.
Carmen García Sanchez, Postdoctoral researcher, Royal Danish Academy.
Rasmus Grønbæk, Head of Education, Aarhus School of Architecture.
Martin Keiding, Editor in chief, Arkitekten.
Nathan Romero Muelas, Teaching Assistant Professor, Royal Danish Academy.
Troels Rugbjerg, Teaching Associate Professor, Aarhus School of Architecture.
Rogelio Ruiz-Fernández, PhD Architect and critic.