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Architectures of Northern Europe (Baltic & Nordic): General resources

Recommended resources on the architectures of the Baltic States and Nordic countries, historic to contemporary, and related topics, providing location info for print resources and links for digital resources.

Recommended image resources

Search Detail Inspiration for contemporary architecture from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden (use the “Location” search option)

Other resources

Archinfo, online journal produced by Architecture Information Centre Finland

Architecture Norway, online review of architecture by Arkitektur N magazine, published by the National Association of Norwegian Architects (NAL)

Danish Architecture Center

On Latvia - information on Latvia’s history, culture, architecture, etc.

S.H.E.R.A. (Society of Historians of Eastern European, Eurasian and Russian Art and Architecture) - resource page offers web links to museums and institutions from the Baltic states

True Lithuania - information on Lithuanian history, culture, architecture, etc.

Recommended for all architectural research

General architecture resources

Cowles, Sarah, “Propagating an idea: the legacy of the landscape laboratory at Alnarp spreads across Scandinavia,” Landscape Architecture Magazine, January 2017, p.26, 28

Drçemaitçe, Marija, Baltic modernism : architecture and housing in Soviet Lithuania, DOM, NA1455.L57 D74 2017

Mansbach, S. A., “Modernist architecture and nationalist aspiration in the Baltic: two case studies,” JSAH, March 2006, p.92-111 (via Jstor)

Medina, Samuel, “The cold rush: as the Arctic melts, pioneering architects and planners design for the ultimate extreme climate,” Metropolis, November 2014, p.49-59

Oliver, Paul (editor), Encyclopedia of vernacular architecture of the world, Cambridge University Press, NA208.E53 1997 v.2 (See: “Baltic and Finland,” p.1255-1271, and “Nordic,” p.1381-1402)

Paulsson, Thomas, Scandinavian architecture: buildings and society in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden, from the Iron Age until today, C.T. Bradford Co., NA1201 .P3 1959

Plummer, Henry, Nordic light: modern Scandinavian architecture, Thames & Hudson, NA2794 .P485 2012

Schafer, Robert, et al, “New Nordic Landscapes,” Topos, 2010, #71, p.109-124

Steiner, Barbara (editor), Superkilen, Arvinius + Orfeus Publishing, NA9072.C67 S87 2013

Stewart, John, Nordic architecture 1910-1930, Bloomsbury, NA12018.5.C55 S74 2018

Van Eljnatten, Joris & Paula Yates (editors), The churches, Leuven University Press, 2011 (via Ebook Central) (See: “The Nordic countries” subsection)

Baltic & Nordic countries

Baldwin, Eric, “Baltic architecture: Estonia’s eclectic cultural projects,” Architizer Journal, accessed April 2019 (via architizer.com)

“Dorell Ghotmeh Tane: Estonian National Museum / Memory Field, Tartu, Estonia,” GA Document, August 2017, p.80-99

Estonia,” Grove Art Online

Historic Centre (Old Town) Tallinn [Estonia],” World Heritage List, UNESCO, accessed April 2019 (via whc.unesco.org)

Kurg, Andres, “Tallinn in technicolour,” AA Files, 2015, #71, p.68-74 (On an urban design project, “Proposal for the Design of Central Areas of Tallinn [Estonia]”) (via Jstor)

Mändel, Maris & Oliver Orro, “The marvelous reinforced concrete shells of Tallinn seaplane hangars in the context of early concrete architecture in Estonia,” Construction History, 2012, Vol.27, p.65-85 (via Jstor)

Nurme, Sulev, et al, “Talking Ruins: the legacy of baroque garden design in manor parks of Estonia,” in Landscape archaeology between art and science, edited by S.J. Kluiving & E.B. Guttmann-Bond, Amsterdam University Press, 2012, p.115-126 (via Jstor)

Salo, Vello, “The Catholic church in Estonia, 1918-2001,” The Catholic Historical Review, April 2002, p.281-292 (via Jstor)

Viljasaar, Regina & Jörn Frenzel, “Parallel cities,” Topos, 2016, #94, p.104-109 (On smart cities in Estonia and Finland)

Dowdy, Clare, “Letter from Riga: dispatches from Latvia’s intriguing architecture scene,” Wallpaper, July 20, 2018 (via wallpaper.com)

Grava, Sigurd, “The urban heritage of the Soviet regime: the case of Riga, Latvia,” Journal of the American Planning Association, Winter 1993, p.9-30

Latvia,” Grove Art Online

“Latvia: architecture unfolding,” A & U: Architecture & Urbanism, December 2016 (Special issue)

Lenss, Laura A., “Capturing the next shift: the mapping of meaning onto the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia,” Future Anterior, Summer 2006, p.48-57 (via Jstor)

On Latvia (Site offers information about Latvia’s history and culture. Search categories for information on specific architectural styles / periods) (via www.onlatvia.com)

Brown, Catherine, “Lithuania’s capital city goes modern,” Urban Land, May 2009, p.51-55

Bucas, Jurgis, et al, “Minding our manors: Lithuanian heritage at risk,” The Public Historian, Fall 2008, p.35-58 (via Jstor)

Lithuania,” Grove Art Online

“Lithuanian architects still have to fight for every special architectural element,” Mark, December 2015-January 2016, p.177-181 (On the use of fibro-concrete)

Maciuika, John V., “East bloc, west view: architecture and Lithuanian national identity,” Traditional Dwellings and Settlements Review, Fall 1999, p.23-35 (via Jstor)

True Lithuania (Site offers information about Lithuania’s history and culture. Search categories for information on specific architectural styles / periods)

*Note: section includes resources for Greenland and the Faroe Islands, autonomous countries within the Kingdom of Denmark.

Andersson, Stig Lennart, “The urban as a resilient system of processes: the Delta District, Vinge, Denmark,” Topos, 2015, #90, p.22-29

Architecture from Faroe Islands,” ArchDaily, accessed May 30, 2019 (Latest built projects in the Faroe Islands)

Architecture from Greenland,” ArchDaily, accessed May 30, 2019 (Latest built projects in Greenland)

“Architecture in Norway and Denmark,” A + U: Architecture & Urbanism, November 2018 (Theme issue)

Denmark, Kingdom of [Danmark],” Oxford Art Online

Elsea, Daniel, “Copenhagen cool: transportation infrastructure gets a feet-friendly makeover,” Landscape Architecture Magazine, June 2018, p.86-99

Ibler, Marianne (editor), Global Danish architecture, Archipress M, NA1218 .G562 2006

“Kingo and Fredensborg Houses, 1956-1959 / 1962-1963, Zealand, Denmark,” AV Monographs, 2018, #205, p.42-51 (Theme issue)

Lausten, Martin Schwarz, A church history in Denmark, Routledge, 2016 (via Ebook Central)

“Melancholy & dwelling: contemporary houses in Denmark,” A + U: Architecture & Urbanism, July 2017 (Theme issue)

Mortensen, Peder Dueland, Home – ensembles – city: housing and welfare in Copenhagen, Arkitektur B, NA7863.D4 M67 2018

Aav, Marianne & Nina Stritzler-Levine (editors), Finnish modern design: utopian ideals and everyday realities, 1930-1997, Yale University Press, NK1471.F5 F57 1998

Finland, Republic of [Suomi; Swe. Finnland],” Oxford Art Online

Form Function Finland (periodical)

Hertzen, Heikki von & Paul D. Spreiregen, Building a new town: Finland’s new garden city, Tapiola, MIT Press, NA9241.F52 T35

Jetsonen, Jari & Sirkkaliisa Jetsonen, Finnish summer houses, Princeton architectural Press, NA7579.F5 J48 2008

Korvenmaa, Pekka (editor), The work of architects: the Finnish Association of Architects, 1892-1992, FAA, NA1455.F5 W67 1992

Nikula, Riitta, Architecture and landscape: the building of Finland, Otava, NA1455.F5 N53 1993

Sahi, Karola & Mikko Paakkenen (editors), Touch wood!: wood studio works 2000-2012, Aalto University, NK9771.F5 K64 2012

Viljasaar, Regina & Jörn Frenzel, “Parallel cities,” Topos, 2016, #94, p.104-109 (On smart cities in Estonia and Finland)

Architecture from Iceland,” ArchDaily, accessed July 3, 2019 (Latest built projects in Iceland, via www.archdaily.com)

Astbury, Jon, “From empty shell to community hot spot,” Architectural Review, January 2016, p.96-103 (On a concert hall and conference center in Harpa, Iceland)

“Holiday cottages in Brekkuskógur,” Detail (English edition), November-December 2016, p.570-573 (On modern interpretations of traditional Icelandic turf houses)

Iceland architecture and design,” Dezeen, accessed July 3, 2019 (Latest built projects in Iceland, via www.dezeen.com)

 “Iceland, Republic of,” Oxford Art Online

Almaas, Ingerid Helsing, Made in Norway: new Norwegian architecture, Birkhauser, 2016 (via Ebook Central)

“Architecture in Norway and Denmark,” A + U: Architecture & Urbanism, November 2018 (Theme issue)

Brekke, Nils Georg, et al, Architecture in Norway: an architectural history from the Stone Age to the twenty-first century, Birkhauser, NA1261 .B4413 2019

Nilsen, Dag, “The Cathedral of Nidaros building a historic monument,” Future Anterior, 2010, Vol.7, 32, p.1-17 (via Jstor)

Norway, Kingdom of [Norge],”Oxford Art Online

Roberts, Bryony (editor), Tabula Plena: forms of urban preservation, Lars Muller Publishers, HT170.T33 2016

Valebrokk, Eva & Thomas Thiis-Evensen, Norway’s stave churches: architecture, history, and legends, Boksenteret, NA5761 .V35 1993

Abraham, Anders & Christina Capetillo, “The Hunstad Code: rules for the planning of a rural town,” Architectural Design, July/August 2016, p.78-85

Brejzek, Thea, et al. (editors), Bauhaus x IKEA : legacies of modernism, Uro Publications, HD9773.S84 B38 2022

Hemmarck, Carl, “Swedish furniture, 1700-1800,” The Burlington Magazine, December 1943, p.304-309 (via Jstor)

Hultin, Olof (editor), Architecture in Sweden, 1973-83, Arkitektur forlag, NA1288 .A45 1983 (See also: Architecture in Sweden, 1984-89, and Architecture…1990-1994)

Ibelings, Hans, Barcode- instant city, Arvinius forlag, NA1290 .I24 2016

Isling, Bengt, “A typology for the parks of Stokholm,” Garden History, Winter 2004, p.248-260 (via Jstor)

“Mall of Scandinavia, Solna, Sweden,” Arca International, November/December 2017, p.31-39

Mattson, Helena & Sven-Olov Wallenstein (editors), Swedish modernism: architecture, consumption and the welfare state, Black Dog, NA682.M63 S88 2010

Murphy, Keith M., Swedish design: an ethnography, Cornell University Press, 2015 (via Ebook Central)

Schoof, Jakob, “Timber construction returns to the city,” Detail, January/February 2018, #1/2, p.24-33 (See “Sweden: sleeping beauty awakens”)

Sweden, Kingdom of [Sverige],” Oxford Art Online

Related topics A to Z

Andersson, Stig Lennart, “The urban as a resilient system of processes: the Delta District, Vinge, Denmark,” Topos, 2015, #90, p.22-29

Brown, Catherine, “Lithuania’s capital city goes modern,” Urban Land, May 2009, p.51-55

Elsea, Daniel, “Copenhagen cool: transportation infrastructure gets a feet-friendly makeover,” Landscape Architecture Magazine, June 2018, p.86-99

Grava, Sigurd, “The urban heritage of the Soviet regime: the case of Riga, Latvia,” Journal of the American Planning Association, Winter 1993, p.9-30

Ibelings, Hans, Barcode- instant city, Arvinius forlag, NA1290 .I24 2016

Karalius, Audrys, “Lithuania: assembling in cities,” Architectural Design, May-June 2006, p.68-75

Roberts, Bryony (editor), Tabula Plena: forms of urban preservation, Lars Muller Publishers, HT170.T33 2016

Simpson, Deane, et al, Atlas of the Copenhagens, Ruby Press, NA9216.C6 A83 2018

Gluckstein, Donny, “Latvia – standing history on its head,” in A People’s history of the Second World War: resistance versus empire, Pluto Press, 2012, p.70-82 (via Jstor)

Gradén, Lizette, et al, Performing Nordic heritage: everyday practices and institutional culture, Taylor & Francis, 2013 (via Ebook Central)

Hassing, Arne, Church resistance to Nazism in Norway, 1940-1945, University of Washington Press, 2014 (via Ebook Central)

Hatt, Emilie Demant, With the Lapps in the high mountains: a woman among the Sami, 1907-1908, University of Wisconsin Press, 2013 (via Ebook Central)

Hess, Cordelia & Jonathan Adams, Fear and loathing in the north: Jews and Muslims in medieval Scandinavia and the Baltic Region, De Gruyter, 2015 (via Ebook Central)

Oslund, Karen, Iceland imagined: nature, culture, and storytelling in the North Atlantic, University of Washington Press, 2011 (via Ebook Central)

Senn, Alfred Erich, Lithuania 1940: revolution from above, Rodopi, 2007 (via Ebook Central)

Taylor, Michael, “Building the Baltic identity,” The Site Magazine, December 5, 2017

Arrhenius, Thordis & Jorge Otero-Pailos, “The Scandinavian welfare state and preservation,” Future Anterior, Winter 2010, p.iii-vii (Editorial preceding a theme issue on Swedish architecture and heritage preservation) (via Jstor)

Bucas, Jurgis, et al, “Minding our manors: Lithuanian heritage at risk,” The Public Historian, Fall 2008, p.35-58 (via Jstor)

Mändel, Maris & Oliver Orro, “The marvelous reinforced concrete shells of Tallinn seaplane hangars in the context of early concrete architecture in Estonia,” Construction History, 2012, Vol.27, p.65-85 (via Jstor)

Isling, Bengt, “A typology for the parks of Stokholm,” Garden History, Winter 2004, p.248-260 (via Jstor)

Martinez, Francisco, “The past is a rotting place,” in Remains of the Soviet past in Estonia, UCL Press, 2018, p.19-53 (via Jstor)

Nurme, Sulev, et al, “Talking Ruins: the legacy of baroque garden design in manor parks of Estonia,” in Landscape archaeology between art and science, edited by S.J. Kluiving & E.B. Guttmann-Bond, Amsterdam University Press, 2012, p.115-126 (via Jstor)

Kääpä, Pietari & Silja Laine (editors), World film locations: Helsinki, Intellect, 2013 (via Ebook Central)

Matthiasdottir, Louisa, Louisa Matthiasdottir, small paintings, Hudson Hill Press, NA753.M38 A4 1986 (Icelandic landscapes and towns)

Rees, Ellen, Cabins in modern Norwegian literature, negotiating place and identity, Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 2014 (via Ebook Central)

Grava, Sigurd, “The urban heritage of the Soviet regime: the case of Riga, Latvia,” Journal of the American Planning Association, Winter 1993, p.9-30

Lenss, Laura A., “Capturing the next shift: the mapping of meaning onto the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia,” Future Anterior, Summer 2006, p.48-57 (via Jstor)

Rasmussen, Johannes Bach, Traces of the Cold War: the countries around the Baltic Sea, Nordiska ministerrådets förlag, 2011 (via Ebook Central)

Estonian Open Air Museum (Search by region for examples of barn dwellings, windmills, fishing houses, sheds, and other traditional structures)

Richardson, Milda Baksys, “Reverence and resistance in Lithuanian wayside shrines,” Perspectives in Vernacular Architecture, 2005, Vol.10, p.249-267

Please note

  • These guides are intended to provide initial orientation, and suggest a variety of different lines of investigation—not take the place of individual research.
  • All the resources cited here--print and digital--are available through the Kappe Library at SCI-Arc.Items not available at SCI-Arc are not included.
  • Surveys covering multiple projects are preferred over monographic studies focusing on specific works or individuals.
  • Resources on Los Angeles and Southern California are stressed.
  • Proprietary digital resources (Avery Index, Oxford Art Online, ArtStor, etc) can be accessed on-campus at SCI-ARC via any SCI-Arc internet provider. Off-campus they can be accessed 24/7 via the Kappe Library proxy server, and a valid SCI-Arc Network username and password.

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