Both Henrik Ibsen and the Ibsen Library project aroused great interest in the Japanese metropolises of Osaka and Tokyo recently.
Architects Jens Walter and Noora Khezri from Mad Architects were invited to The International House of Japan in Tokyo to talk about the poet and Skien's future library.
– Henrik Ibsen was revolutionary in his time and is eternally relevant. He is very big in Japan. In a changing society, historically characterized by patriarchal traditions, Ibsen's female characters in particular have aroused great interest in Japan, Walter tells Skien Library.
He participated in a session called “Designing with Nature and Culture,” where he presented the Ibsen Library and discussed how architecture can help improve both local communities and the environment.
– I talked about the role of the library in the world, about its functions as a local meeting place, as a common living room in society, says Walter.
– It was great fun. A seed was sown. The Norwegian embassy expressed interest in collaborating with the Ibsen Library in connection with Henrik Ibsen's 200th anniversary in 2028.
The Norwegian Embassy in Tokyo and DOGA (Design and Architecture Norway) were behind the invitation.
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