Welcome as the new chair of the Oslo Architecture Triennale board! What relationship do you have to the Triennale from before?

I have several strong experiences from the Triennale both as audience, contributor and jury member. I still remember the very first edition of the Triennale back in 2000. It felt as if there was something introduced to the Norwegian architecture scene that had never been there before, with a magical meeting between the city and the International architecture voices. The subsequent festivals have all been important, regardless of what form they have taken – I see it as a strength that the Triennale has taken different shapes, something that shows a will and an ability to test various formats, and a sort of lightness that I appreciate. But that start down in the underground train station in 2000, with the smell of styropor from the models and that particular nerve … it was wild, and has perhaps also paved the way for further experimenting.

Then I also contributed to the exhibition of the 2019 "Degrowth" Triennale, a festival with parallels to this year's Triennale. In fact, we contributed as an extended family over three generations to the exhibition at the National Museum, with a project titled "The Family". This included the publication of a revised version of the book "New Homes in Norway" ("Nye hjem i Norge") from 1940, where we added three new chapters exploring new and old thoughts on housing quality and family structures, with our own family as the point of depature.

Additionally, I have been part of the jury selecting the theme and the curator team for the Triennale. That was before the 2019 Triennale, and it was an interesting experience. Since then, the Oslo Architecture Triennale has chosen not to appoint external curators, and rather gather the artistic and administrative responsibility internally. The goal has been to retain the valuable knowledge, experiences and network generated in each festival cycle within our institution.

The few last years there has been a focus on increasing the Triennale's relevance and accessibility, something that is evident in the appointment of both chairs and directors. Is this a direction that will continue under your leadership?

We will have to spend some time discussing the implications of the the different form that the festival can take. What is relevant? For me, the Triennale represents a possibility of exploring sides of the architecture that the industry itself cannot explore. How can the Triennale push architecture forward, in a way that none of the other actors in the field can?

The last 10–15 years has seen an explosion in events and actors disseminating and discussing architecture and urban development. So perhaps we should start looking in the edges of this in order to be something truly distinct on behalf of architecture.

What are your ambitions for the Triennale and in what direction would you like the Oslo Architecture Triennale to move during your chairmanship?

It is no secret that the organisation has been through a challenging period, with downsizing and the postponement of the 9th edition of the Triennale from 2025 to 2026. Although this has been dramatic, the measures taken have been absolutely neccessary, and also going forward we need to stay focused on securing the Triennale takes a shape that is relevant for our times, with an organisation behind that is resilient and sustainable. I have great confidence in the work that has been done so far, both by my predecessor as chairman, Erling Dokk Holm, and by our Director Line Ramstad, and I am truly looking forward to contribute to develop this further. It is my belief that this can be a transformative experience, and that we have a good starting point for rethinking how we want to rig the Oslo Architecture Triennale for the future.

It is important for me that the Triennale is able to create magic moments that people will remember in their minds and bodies, with experiences that expand and go beyond the everyday professional discourse. That the Triennale can really open up the conversation and create curiosity.

Does that mean that exhibition format is important to you?

Yes, or perhaps you could rather call it spacial manifestations. Spatiality is at the very core of architecture, so this really needs to be present as a central part of the Triennale experience. When we come together in September in the Sofienberg church – the 2026 Triennale main venue – for conversations around sustainable architecture and urban development, the exhibition will constitute the framework for the discussions.

The 9th edition of the Oslo Architecture Triennale opens September 17 2026 with the title "What if Nature Comes First?". What is your own thoughts around the theme?

I find it very interesting. In fact I believe this problem is something that has not been worked with enough. Because there is no question that we need to change the way we build and develop our buildings, places and cities going forward, within the planetary boundaries. I am looking forward to see how this will unfold both in exhibitions and talks in the autumn.

With just six months to go, what dreams do you have for this 9th edition of the Triennale?

I hope for this year's Triennale that we develop new knowledge, insights, interest and engagement around our environment – built and unbuilt. The topic of "What if Nature Comes First?" provides an opportunity to show the urban qualities in Oslo that are results of systematic work through a decade, around the understanding of nature and the management and maintenance of green infrastructure – and how this gives us quality in our everyday lives. Herein lies a perspective of time which belongs to architecture: The long lines – within which lives and politics and history is interwoven. But the physical structures are still standing – as is the Oslo Architecture Triennale, that serves precisely to disseminate and show such important and inspiring stories.

MARIANNE SKJULHAUG (B. 1964)

• New chair of the Oslo Architecture Triennale board as of March 2026 (following Erling Dokk Holm)
• Architect, and currently Dean at the Oslo National Academy of the Arts
• Former Dean at the Bergen School of Architecture, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (Faculty of Architecture and Design) and Head of Institute at the Oslo School of Architecture and Design
• President of Europan Norway until 2026