Foreword: Northern lights Steven Holl (written with David van der Leer) Introduction: Considering architectural writings Michael Asgaard Andersen Part 1: Denmark Danish Introduction: Negotiating with the surrounding society Christoffer Harlang Tradition and Modernism 1927 Poul Henningsen The Moral of Functionalism 1947 Kay Fisker Basic Observations 1957 Steen Eiler Rasmussen On Form, In Space 1957 Erik Christian Sørensen Platforms and Plateaus: Ideas of a Danish architect 1962 Jørn Utzon Contemporary Form and Design 1963 Arne Jacobsen It Can Be Done 1974 Tegnestuen Vandkunsten On Architecture 1984 Henning Larsen The Crisis in Building Technics 1992 Boje Lundgaard Part 2: Finland Finnish Introduction: The mythology of essentiality Anni Vartola Address 1931 Eliel Saarinen Research for Reconstruction: Rehousing research in Finland 1941 Alvar Aalto Thoughts on Architecture 1943 Nils Erik Wickberg The Problem of Architectural Form 1958 Aulis Blomstedt The Need for Flexibility: A problem of modern architecture 1967 Osmo Lappo Architecture and the World of Techno-Culture 1973 Reima Pietilä Architecture: Its ideals and reality 1974 Kirmo Mikkola Construction, Technology and Art 1995 Markku Komonen Space, Place, Memory and Imagination: The temporal dimension of existential space 2007 Juhani Pallasmaa Part 3: Norway Norwegian Introduction: Effective words on behalf of the architect(ure) Elisabeth Tostrup What is Contemporary Architecture? 1927 Johan Ellefsen Our Agenda 1933 PLAN CIAM 1952 PAGON People in Focus 1961 Knut Knutsen Order and Variation in the Environment 1966 Christian Norberg-Schulz Tradition and Distinctiveness 1978 Wenche Selmer Structuralistic Architecture: Strapped or free? 1983 Kjell Lund Is a House Interesting seen through a Hedge? 2004 Håkon Vigsnæs Affinity 2007 Jan Olav Jensen Part 4: Sweden Swedish Introduction: With functionalism as the hub Johan Mårtelius Turning Points 1925 Uno Åhrén Our Architectonic Perception of Space 1931 Erik Gunnar Asplund Spatial Design: Philosophy or architecture? 1945 Nils Ahrbom Architectural Experiments 1948 Leif Reinius About Space 1960 Peter Celsing The Challenge of the High Latitudes 1963 Ralph Erskine Working Principles 1967 ELLT Mannerisms: Or what can we do with our functionalistic inheritance? 1978 Stefan Alenius, Jan Angbjär and Magnus Silfverhielm The Robust, the Sincere 2007 Johan Celsing Epilogue: Between arrangement and subtle rebellion Wilfried Wang