In Therapy

In Therapy was curated by David Basulto and James Taylor-Foster of Arch Daily, who state that "a central impetus for this exhibition is to acknowledge the presence of the 'ghosts' of Nordic architecture ... who continue to exert influence on contemporary practice and pedagogy." These ghosts are illustrated through videos displayed on screens next to therapy couches as well as through Fehn's Nordic Pavilion itself. This expression of the past architecture of Nordic countries is balanced by the stepped pyramid, which is a platform for 300 projects completed in Finland, Norway and Sweden between 2008 and 2016, as selected in an open call earlier this year.

The pyramid, designed by Marge Arkitekter, attracts the most attention thanks to its size and the way it touches the underside of the pavilion's beams. Its proportions echo the steps outside the pavilion, linking old and new just as the two parts of the exhibition intend to accomplish. As a platform for the 300 projects, the wooden steps, which also serve as seating for talks on the exhibition's theme, are a bit ironic: Arch Daily, after all, is an online platform that allows thousands of projects to be found easily, but here visitors are required to ascend and descend the steps, paper "In Therapy" bag in hand, to collect tear sheets on the 300 projects. Visitors are put to work, but in the process they learn a great deal about contemporary Nordic architecture and Fehn's building.