Removing almost all the walls and doors from an apartment would be foolish, unacceptable, or simply absurd for most people. It would mean losing the opportunity to close off and cut off from the outside world, at least for a while.

Modernism in architecture was perhaps the first truly global building design philosophy. Established at the beginning of the twentieth century, its early proponents were heavyweights from Europe, such as Le Corbusier, Walter Gropius, and Mies van der Rohe. In 1923, Le Corbusier published his seminal written work, usually translated into English as Towards a New Architecture. Newness, and a rejection of history, was one of the central tenets of modernism. This manifested itself in the use of new materials such as steel and concrete, which gave rise to an unprecedented freedom of formal expression.

The concept behind The Lost Shtetl Jewish Museum is based on the destroyed village of Šeduva and its culture, which vanished overnight in August 1941. 664 Jews from the village were executed in the nearby forests. Along with human lives, Šeduva's long and rich history was also lost. The museum was built to commemorate the lost lives and culture, which represented not only Jewish but also European culture. The museum consists of minimalist, abstract 'houses' with hip roofs. Together, they form a cluster of buildings—a dreamscape of a village, a shtetl.

Located approximately 300 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle, on the island of Andøya in northern Norway, The Whale by Dorte Mandrup is currently under construction along the coastline of Andenes. The small settlement is situated near Bleiksdjupa, a deep-sea canyon that brings marine life close to shore and has contributed to the region's role as a whale-watching destination. Recent construction images show the building emerging from the rocky shoreline, maintaining a low profile that follows the contours of the site. The surrounding context, including the existing lighthouse and residential structures, situates the project within an active coastal environment.