Nordic AID summary 2011

1. Nordic AID
Architecture, Interior and Design Meeting
18-19 February 2011, Haparanda & Harads
Summary & Evaluation

2. Evaluation by the participants
I like I wish
• Open atmosphere • To meet potential clients
• Conversations with the participants • No boarders
• New perspectives • More participants next year
• Meeting everyone • There would be more time to develop
• Meeting architects and other people in concepts and entities, like we have done
design fields. these 2 days.
• Meeting Nordic partners, face to face. • This would lead to a cross-cultural
• Listening to others, their thoughts and cooperation
suggestions • More participants next time
• Informality in meetings • To meet more people from Norway and
• Short and specified presentations Sweden.
• I like the relaxed atmosphere • I wish there will be 10 times the
amount of people next time.
• The above normal weekend.
• That everyone has a nice trip home.
• More time with colleagues
• More variations in the presentations, for
example, the work process, Concepts
from idea to finished project.

3. We need a new name of the meeting.
The architects will think of some
names that can work for this type of
meeting.
Suggestions;
Nordic Design Meeting, Nordic
Connective, Nordic New North…

4. Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities
– Strengths
– The ongoing cooperation between the universities
– Architects in this region are used to travel long distances by car
– Architects in this region are used to work in hard conditions
– Weaknesses
– the infrastructure in our region
– An natural network or annual event for this branch hasn’t been active
since 1990
– Clients don’t know what architectures actually do
– There is a problem for architectures to “selling ourselves”
– Opportunities
– Social media (for example Facebook)
– Technique – using video conference makes it easier when the
geographical distance is far

5. How can we benefit from this collaboration?
•Share knowledge
•Share risks
•Share expertise
•-This can lead to new opportunities, new business and new clients.
•Find reliable partners more efficient
•A natural meeting place to find new partners

6. Methods of reaching the goal
• Joint efforts in competitions. Enter competitions together, this might be a good way to
get to know each other.
• Act as a stronger part in large scale projects, by combinding strengths and expertise.
• 3 – 4 smaller offices can share costs and risks.
• Share knowledge and experts.
• Market knowledge in each country, Finland, Sweden and Norway.
• Cooperation when working with public procurement

7. What do we need help with?
• Connecting partners
• Meet new clients
• Understanding new markets, a wish is to gain more knowledge about the Norwegian
market.
• Another meeting arena for architects, industrial designers, light designers, landscape
designers, interior designers & designers.
• Market researches

8. Next meeting
– When? First week of October (not week 43) or February/March
– Where? Levi (Levi.fi) or Kukkolaforsen (kukkolaforsen.se)
– How?
• In cooperation with Nordic Housing in Alta?
• Spontaneous meetings/ lots of time for mingle
• Day 1 can contain mingle, presentation of each participant, workshop and one
good presentation. Day 2 doesn’t have to be mandatory, this day should
contain at least one study visit.
• One good speaker is enough. Talking about the topic “Selling your services
more efficient” or “How to educate your customers”
• Cooperate with other projects within this sector, for example Centek and ALMI
• Invitation has to be sent out long time in advance!
– Who?
• Industrial designers
• Garden designers
• Landscape architects
• Interior designers
• Housing companies
• Architectural lighting designers

9. Contacts
Sipi Hintsanen Architect, SAFA Fi sipi.hintsanen@dnainternet.net
Kuukasjärvi Mari Aluearkkitehti Fi Mari.Kuukasjarvi@kempele.fi,
Palosaari Outi VSU Arkkitehtuuri- ja viheraluesuunnittelu Oy Fi outi.palosaari@vsu.fi,
Suikkari Risto Architects office Tilatohtorit Oy Fi risto.suikkari@oulu.fi
Tuominen Pekka Archeus Oy Fi pejotu@gmail.com
Merja Petänen Project coordinator, BusinessOulu Fi Merja.Petanen@ouka.fi
Mats Winsa Mats Winsa Arkitektkontor. Swe mats@winsa.se
Søren Øhberg Øverarkitekt/ Senior architect/ Husbanken Hammerfest No soren.ohberg@husbanken.no
Pave Mikkonen Archeus Oy Fi mikkonen@archeus.fi,
Huhtala Mika Architects office Kanttia2 Oy Fi mika.huhtala@kanttia2.fi,
Mats Öhman MAF Arkitektkontor. Swe mats.ohman@maf-ark.se
AnnKathrin Lundqvist Arctic Trend Swe annkathrin@arctictrend.se
Elin Alsiok Norrbottens Handelskammare Swe elin@norrbottenshandelskammare.se

10. Summary
• Cross-border business is important for the future of architectural offices in this region.
• Collaboration is important for business, competence and expertise in this region.
• Synergy effects
• Collaboration can also gain closeness to projects, for example one office can act as the
personal contact being close to client.
• Each country can act as expertis in regulations and excellence, for example: Sentral
Godkjenning (Norway)
• Next step? LEVI, Finland. Meeting first week of October 2011?
• New name for this meeting.

11. Photo:arctictrend.se

12. Photo:arctictrend.se

13. ” It is in the analysis of trends outside your traditional areas that you can find ideas for
new solutions.
Transparency (Transparency, implies openness, communication, and accountability.
Source: Wikipedia)
The best way to predict the future is to create it.” arctic trend

14. Thank you for participating in Nordic AID Meeting
Nordic Business Link
www.nordicbusinesslink.eu