The exhibition banale showcases extracts from the book “Banal buildings” and the case study of the buildings in the outer export harbour of Södertälje.

Architecture exhibitions typically display works built elsewhere, a specific oeuvre, or documentation linked to a philosophical, creative, or political process. They represent architecture but are not architecture themselves. The idea behind banale is that it is ephemeral and takes place during the final moments of yet another banal building due for demolition — amid the disassembly process.

The exhibition will take place inside the Luna Mall, hosted by Södertälje Konsthall in the former archives connected to the art hall. Previously used as an art collection and storage space, this area has recently been opened to the public on request. The built work of the exhibition is solely made out of materials found inside the storage space of the art gallery and within the proximity of the Luna house. A design approach based on an interest for both the cultural and material values of this particular site and a willingness to explore the technical constraints and also possibilities that a building can imply.

There is a certain nerve to that. The awareness grows that it will all decompose — not only the exhibition but the very body of information, the framework, will cease to exist. Unlike a biennale, banale will not recur in the same place every second year. The exhibition is an introspection that can help enhance our appreciation for banal buildings before they vanish.