NORDICSCOTLAND.
TUMBLR.COM
WHERE ARE WE?
In an uncertain future Scotland’s identity, economy and society could become lost - are we a Northern
outpost of a European region centred around the Mediterranean? Or should we begin to consider this nation as part of
a wider Nordic region?
The climate, culture and economy of Scotland all have more in common with Scandinavia than central Europe,
but our society and its architecture currently do not reflect this. Exploring the themes of land and sea we will ask why
Scotland is not following the path of its Nordic neighbours and our main aim is to uncover situations where Scotland
can learn from Scandinavia and examine the feasibility of Scotland as a Nordic country. At a time when the question of
Scottish nationality is coming under consideration we are looking to examine the culture and society of the wider Nordic
region as well as Scotland itself as a place within this region.
“In that the North is composed of several and differing countries, it may appear pointless to speak of a ‘Nordic
World’...’The North. That this term is something more than a collective noun is evident; we have already suggested
that it encompasses a region of character and identity.”
Norberg-Schulz, Christian, 1996, Nightlands, London:MIT Press
SCALE
“The intrinsically interesting thing about maritime people is that they cross borders, since coastal people
live on the margins of the state. As a result, the history of coastal populations has had a disproportionate impact
and significance. Maritime people are simultaneously influenced by foreign impulses and conscious of their identity,
which they share by interacting with strangers. The meeting of cultures should therefore be a central concept to the
understanding of maritime history.”
Holm, Paul; Coastal Life, Nordic Culture and Nation State
An examination of our position in a Nordic region at different scales, raises many questions regarding our society and
it’s international outlook. Can we participate in a Northern Europe?
GLOBAL
Changing patterns of global shipping are reshaping the way we can look at Scotland in it’s global
context, the Northern Sea Route is opening up a faster route to Asia from Europe, cutting sailing time by 40%, whilst
the Eurasian Land Bridge is changing the way goods reach the Americas from China and Russia, transiting Via Russia
and Scandinavia then a short hop across the Atlantic.
Globalisation from below presents new opportunities for the coastlines of the Northern Periphery. Are we in a position
to exploit this changing paradigm?
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SHARED CONDITIONS
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We exist in a region that exhibits a shared set of geographical and climactic conditions, yet our responses
to this environment is not always the same. Can we challenge our own vernacular traditions?
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POSSIBLE ORKNEY
Through our research we identified Orkney as a strategic location for new shipping routes and the development
and research of renewable energies, in particular wave and tidal.
At the centre of the Northern Periphery could Orkney act as the stepping stone between Scotland and
the Nordic region?
Orcadian Network
City:
Growth settlements
Present
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+ 20 years