Background by
 
I like it show next
Creative use of space
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Projects
  • People
  • Magazine
  • About
  • Participate
back
October 03, 2008 RSS

8 for 2008 - The Best of the Biennale Architecture in Venice

After the Architecture Biennale this year, I came away with the thought - can architecture actually be exhibited? It's a good question and perhaps best answered by looking at the transformations of the national pavilions of 2008.
 
Venice 2008
Venice 2008.
© Joni Taylor
 
Most pavilions are located in the Giardini, the gardens near the water. They are all unique in character and each year (whether it's the Art or Architecture Biennale) they are reinterpreted by the commissioning countries. It's the physical changes made to the buildings that are the most surprising. 
 
"1907..after the party", Belgium Pavilion.
1.
Take Belguim. This Art Nouveau building constructed in 1907 was given a brand new 6 meter high silver facade. As sounds of rave music waved over the new metallic walls, inside the entire room was empty except for piles of colored confetti on the floor and a photo by designer Hedi Slimane. Suitably called "1907....when the Party's over", visitors most always ended up involved in a confetti fight! Here it was the audience which created the atmosphere, give or take a party prop or two.
 
 
 
Greenhouse outside the Japanese Pavilion
Greenhouse outside the Japanese Pavilion
2.
The Japanese Pavilion entitled "Extreme nature: Landscape of Ambiguous Spaces" was a highlight. Outside the pavilion, trees had been planted and small, glass greenhouses constructed. Inside, artist Junya ishigami had covered the walls in simple pencil drawings of garden houses, forests and flowers. It was beautiful, meditative, uniquely Japanese.
 
 
 
Gas Pipe, Estonian contribution
Gas Pipe, Estonian contribution
3.
Estonia
, in a provocative and cheeky move, placed a bright yellow pipe running from the German Pavilion to the nearby Russian Pavilion. No stops and no entry or exit points - a joke on the proposed actual gas pipe and an architectural intervention like no other this year.
 
 
Drying clothes under the 64 KW light.
Drying clothes under the 64 KW light.
4.
The German Pavilion proved to be the shining light of the Biennale. Literally. The commissioners Raumtaktik installed a 64 kw light by Siegrun Appelt at the entrance to the monumental German Pavilion. This installation, part of their exhibition "Updating Germany" is intended to highlight our energy consumption, and visitors are encouraged to trade their carbon foot print at an online account. However, after an unexpected and heavy rainstorm, this hot light proved to be a great drying off spot for many soaking wet biennale-goer! Here the pavilion took on another purpose all together.
 
 
Fantastic Norway Caravan
Fantastic Norway Caravan
5.
The caravan by Norwegian design group Fantastic Norway was a "semi" - mobile (it has been driven most of the way from Norway) meeting point and social gathering spot in the center of the gardens. Here many new friends were made (and a crazy, nameless, schnapps was consumed). Oh and their manifesto is worth taking note of for any budding designer or architect!
 
 
6.
 
 
The Golden Lion for Best National Pavilion was deservedly won by Poland. The white and austere building was transformed into "Hotel Polonia" with a luxurious interior of red carpets and fairytale beds which could be rented out for the night. As the curators noted, hotels in Venice are so overcrowded why not make the pavilions available too? In contrast to this coziness, the photo-manipulations of Nicolas Grospierre and Kobas Laksa presented a dystopian vision of the "afterlife of buildings". In their images, the new Skidmore, Owings and Merrill skyscraper in Warsaw becomes a vertical cemetery by 2058, and the Foster and Partners Metropolitan Office Building becomes the Metropolitan Prison in 2061!
 
7.
The Portuguese Pavilion, although not located in the gardens, saw the most radical transformation. Located in a house facing the Grand Canal, a huge mirror was constructed which hid the entire building yet created a new cityscape for those travelling past by boat or gondola. For a moment the building disappears altogether and is replaced by a fleeting reflection! 
 
8.
 
 
Last but not least, the Australian Pavilion also saw a change of character. As explained by curator Kerstin Thompson in our video, the building is often overlooked due to its location. This year it was "branded" a bright yellow, as were the trees leading up to it. The sundeck, an Aussie icon, was also extended to allow for more socializing.
 
The extended sundeck at the Abundant Australia pavilion.
Sunny atmosphere at the Abundant Australia Pavilion
The Cyprus Pavilion had a tasty solution.
Click on a picture to launch the image gallery (11 images)
 
So while it may be challenging to display new architecture or even capture the energy of a new building, creating a physical intervention or transformation provokes the imagination and stirs up the senses.
 
Salute!   
 
 

Comments

Leave a comment
Any thoughts about this article? New ideas? More input? Just leave a comment!

Why Join MINI Space?

Because membership has its privileges, seriously...
 
· Get involved in creative competitions & projects
 
· Get invited to MINI events & parties
 
· Get featured with your creative work and meet
other creative people
 
Join now

In Cooperation with:

In Cooperation with

Search for Articles


 
Search
 
Popular Tags