Just after the conclusion of Milan Design Week in April, the 18th Venice Architecture Biennale took center stage on the canals of Venice on May 20 and will continue until November 26, 2023.
Under the curation of architect Lesley Lokko, the Biennale adopted the theme "Laboratory of the Future". With 63 national pavilions, 89 participants, and nine city-side events, the event boasts over 200 projects contributing to the exhibition.
The Brazilian Pavilion secured the prestigious Golden Lion for Best National Pavilion with its captivating exhibition that emerged from the earth itself.
Curated by architects Gabriela de Matos and Paulo Tavares, the pavilion features flooring clad in soil and a rammed earth plinth, dividing the "land" into two distinct sections. Soil-covered exhibition halls adorned with rammed earth booths epitomize this captivating design.
The first section delves into the heritage, design, and landscapes of indigenous communities marginalized and displaced during the construction of Brasilia in the mid-20th century.
The second section focuses on historical and indigenous architecture across Brazil, exploring the living spaces of the Tucano, Arawak, and Macu peoples.
The Brazilian Pavilion's exhibition also highlights the country's practices, technologies, and customs related to land management and production. It sheds light on alternative ways of building and understanding architecture rooted in ancestral knowledge, aiming to redefine the present and shape a future focused on themes of "decolonization" and "decarbonization" of development.
The UK Pavilion takes a unique approach by utilizing installation art instead of architectural models to conceptually portray the community-building endeavors of the British diaspora in other countries.
It explores how new immigrants bring their inherent habits and cultural practices to integrate into local communities while examining the economic and values-based impacts arising from the collision of different cultures.
"Dancing Before the Moon", an exploration of invisible architecture, deconstructs our perception of the built environment, redirecting attention to people, communities, rituals, social practices, and everyday customs.
The Australia Pavilion hosts a multi-faceted and multi-sensory exhibition that delves into the themes of decarbonization.
Curated by Basma and Noura Bouzo and designed by architect AlBara Saimaldahar, the pavilion exhibits a striking design featuring an octagonal metal structure adorned with a clever arrangement of red bricks.
Wooden panels line the interior, while 3D-printed clay bricks on the exterior mimic the undulating forms of sand dunes. The overall structure emanates grandeur and atmosphere, representing the unique architectural and material characteristics of the Saudi region while conveying a humanistic architectural message.
The U.S. Pavilion, curated by Gallery Executive Director Tizziana Baldenebro and the Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland curator Lauren Leving, showcases a thought-provoking exhibition. The pavilion immerses visitors in a display of plastic works created by diverse architects and artists.
Curator Lesley Lokko reflects on her role, emphasizing the emergence of a new world order and a shift in knowledge production and control. She highlights the evolving audiences, hungry for diverse narratives, new tools, and a different spatial, formal, and contextual language.
In the aftermath of two challenging and divisive years, architects have a unique opportunity to showcase their expertise by presenting ambitious and creative ideas that collectively envision a more equitable and optimistic future.
