Anderson, R: Invention of Architectural Tradition in Norway

At the turn of the 19th century, Norwegian architects hid behind the guise of National Romanticism believing it to further an inherently Norwegian tradition. This book will explore the relevant events in Norwegian architecture and history that paralleled the struggle for political and cultural autonomy, and at the same time examine the emerging architectural trend of Functionalism, which was seen to be the much-needed break from nationalistic tendencies in Norway. Certainly one has to wonder if these movements and their manifestoes were genuinely a break from the Modernism that was evolving, with regard to building construction and material practices, or just a return to aesthetic forms that overlooked advances in technology, material, and construction. By examining the architectural work of Gudolf Blakstad and Herman Munthe-Kaas, and the struggle in the emerging debate of style versus technology, a variety of their projects can easily be reexamined as a means toward experimentation in reconciling the past with the present. This book will be especially valuable to architects, interior ers, and those engaged in issues related to aesthetics and architectural history.