Venice
2016: Ca Giustinian: La Biennale di Venezia – 15th International
Architecture Exhibition. In the splendid
headquarters of La Biennale di Venezia, on the piano nobile of Ca Giustinian,
on the Canal Grande overlooking the Island of San Giorgio a press conference
was held to introduce the new curator of the 15th International
Architecture Exhibition which will be held from 28 May – 27 November 2016.
Venice
2016: 15th International
Architecture Exhibition. – Reporting From the Front. The president of La Biennale di Venezia, Paolo
Baratta, introduced the new curator of the 15th International Architecture
Exhibition, Chilean architect Alejandro Aravena, who chose the theme Reporting From the Front for next years exhbition. “For some years now we have been saying that the hallmark of
our times is the mismatch between architecture and civil society” Paolo Baratta
stated. “On the one hand, architecture seems preoccupied with producing
spectacular buildings, celebratory reflections of the power and ambitions of
the clients; on the other, society stands by indifferently, shying away from
putting questions to Architecture. In a stance against paralyzing conformism,
the Architecture Biennales of recent years have given voice to the very
questions that emerge from this state of affair. Now, Alejandro Aravena is
taking us into that battleground, showing us that if we strive to formulate
clearer questions, which are then taken into account while identifying
solutions, architecture really can make a difference”
Venice 2016:
15th International Architecture Exhibition. – Reporting From
the Front. The neo-curator Alejandro
Aravena explained his project – Reporting From the Front - as follows:
”There
are several battles that need to be won and several frontiers that need to be
expanded in order to improve the quality of the built environment and
consequently people’s quality of life. More and more people in the planet are
in search for a decent place to live and the conditions to achieve it are
becoming tougher and tougher by the hour. Any attempt to go beyond business as
usual encounters huge resistance in the inertia of reality and any effort to
tackle relevant issues has to overcome the increasing complexity of the world. But unlike military wars where nobody wins
and there is a prevailing sense of defeat, on the frontlines of the built
environment, there is a sense of vitality because architecture is about looking
at reality in a proposal key. This is
what we would like people to come and see at the 15th International
Architecture Exhibition: success stories worth to be told and exemplary cases
worth to be shared where architecture did, is and will make a difference in
winning those battles and expanding those frontiers. Reporting From the Front will
be about bringing to a broader audience, what is it like to improve the quality
of life while working on the margins, under tough circumstances, facing
pressing challenges. Or what does it take to be on the cutting edge trying to
conquer new fields.”
The Press – Reporting From the Front
Chilean architect Alejandro Aravena