Archinect - News

"Beyond Entropy Angola" Documentary

2013-02-27T18:40:00-05:00

Documentary of the making of the first Angolan National Pavilion at the 2012 Venice Architecture Biennale. Shot over the Summer of 2012, it goes to show how one simple (and brilliant) idea may very well change the future sustainability of developing countries. And maybe the rest of the world as well.

Live chat with David Chipperfield as La Biennale di Venezia closes

2012-11-21T13:30:00-05:00

On the occasion of the quickly approaching closing weekend of the 13th International Architecture Exhibition Common Ground at La Biennale di Venezia, the online community gets the chance to talk interactively in a live chat with David Chipperfield, curator of the exhibition.

The live stream starts at 6pm (Central European Time) on Friday, November 23rd and can be accessed at biennalearchitettura.telecomitalia.com.

Last two weeks to visit the Biennale Architettura 2012

2012-11-09T18:55:00-05:00

Two weeks left until the David Chipperfield-curated 13th International Architecture Exhibition Common Ground closes its gates in Venice. On Saturday afternoon, November 24, visitors can participate in the "Great closing meeting" featuring panel discussions to review the goals of the exhibition and the reactions to Common Ground. The last day to visit the exhibition is Sunday, November 25.

Iwan Baan presents TORRE DAVID / GRAN HORIZONTE in Los Angeles

2012-09-28T15:30:00-04:00

It's no secret that we here at Archinect have long been great admirers of Dutch architectural photographer Iwan Baan. It goes without saying that we were very excited to meet the man personally when he stopped by in Los Angeles this week.

In front of a small group of invited guests at Hollywood's Perry Rubenstein Gallery, Baan presented photos of the installation "TORRE DAVID / GRAN HORIZONTE" he did with Urban Think Tank and Justin McGuirk for this year's Venice Architecture Exhibition "Common Ground" — and won the team the Golden Lion for the Best Project. The installation explores an informal and vertical community in an unfinished and abandoned skyscraper in Caracas, Venezuela (previously on Archinect).

Here is a small selection of Iwan Baan's photographic exploration for "TORRE DAVID / GRAN HORIZONTE". Click here for more photos.

Photo: Iwan Baan

Photo: Iw...

Bjarke Ingels: Architect as Midwife

2012-09-14T12:11:00-04:00

Young starchitect Bjarke Ingels talks manifestation, midwifery and shamanism while riding down the Venice canals in this short by Kelly Loudenberg.

13th Venice Architecture Biennale - the Usual Hagiography

2012-09-11T12:57:00-04:00

With a sea change (partly generational, mostly philosophical) overtaking architecture, and attention turning from glamorous buildings and celebrated designers to broader issues like urbanism, public space, social responsibility and collaboration, “Common Ground” is well intended but, alas, a missed opportunity.

Editor's Picks #281

2012-09-11T12:33:00-04:00

For the latest Student Works feature Elif Erdine a PhD in Architectural Design Candidate at the AA, researching on ‘Generative Processes in Tower Design: Algorithms for the Integration of Tower Subsystems’, profiled Fallen Star an installation set between biomimetics, interaction, and perception.The project led drewjmcnamara to think "I am always amazed at the resources available to students at some schools. And then to see those resources actually being put to good use".

For the latest Student Works feature Elif Erdine a PhD in Architectural Design Candidate at the AA, researching on ‘Generative Processes in Tower Design: Algorithms for the Integration of Tower Subsystems’, profiled Fallen Star an installation set between biomimetics, interaction, and perception.The project led drewjmcnamara to think "I am always amazed at the resources available to students at some schools. And then to see those resources actually being put to good use".

News
Last weekend Michael Graves penned an opinion piece for the NYT on Architecture and the Lost Art of Drawing. Graves categorizes three types of architectural drawing and argues that while at least 1 of them (the 'definitive' drawing) have moved with good reason to digital, the other other two ('referential sketch' and the 'preparatory study') are perhaps better suited to paper/hand...

Chris Moody basically agreed commenting "Regarding speed ,accuracy,and the ability to edit quickly, yes computer-aided dr...

Chipperfield counters Prix's Venice Biennale criticism

2012-09-07T17:37:00-04:00

In a letter titled ‘Kicking against the Prix’, the RIBA gold medallist claimed the Coop Himmelb(l)au founder had failed to attend the biennale despite issuing a critical press release last week describing it as ‘banal’.

David Chipperfield’s full letter

I am disappointed that our British architectural press should give so much coverage to the destructive opinions of a Viennese architect about the Biennale, even though he hadn’t even visited Venice.

My concerns are not about the criticism, which I didn’t understand, but that this statement and the ensuing ‘controversy’ stimulated by its publication reinforce the negative attitudes of our architectural culture. Wolf Prix demonstrates no interest in the position of others and only imagines that architecture can conform to his own priorities and preconceptions.

This year’s Biennale, with all its weaknesses and mistakes, was above all conceived and realised in a spirit of generosity, optimistically proposing that there is an architectural culture bound together by shared intentions, influences and disappointments and that even the most celebrated protagonists of our profession are capable of engaging in such a dialogue.

When I began to formulat...

Editor's Picks #280

2012-09-03T23:21:00-04:00

The Architects' Journal reported that Wolf Prix referred to the Venice Architectural Biennale as an ‘expensive dance of death’ and went on to claim a ‘great’ biennale would have featured forums and themes looking ‘behind the scenes’ at decision-making. mimiz took on the charge "having just come back from venice where I moderated several panel discussions on the behind the scenes making of interventions at the US Pavilion, I think Prix is sucking on some sour grapes."

For the latest feature in the Student Works series Nicholas Waissbluth explored the inaugural workshop for the INSITU program which took place in Medellin, Colombia. INSITU is an initiative founded by Blokcad Lab and uAbureau in 2011 to implement projects that investigate the informal development of cities, its non-consolidated urban spaces and auto- construction processes.

News

The Architects' Journal reported that Wolf Prix referred to the Venice Architectural Biennale as an ‘expensive dance of death’. The Coop Himmelb(l)au-founder went on to claim a ‘great’ biennale would have featured forums and themes looking ‘behind the scenes’ at decision-making ‘instead of boring exhibitions’. job job noted there was a "Better source at Building Design, but their need for registration denies access to many" and toasteroven wondered "wouldn't wolf prix's buildings classify as ‘expensive dances of death?"

Meanwhile mimiz took on the charge more directly "having just come back from v...

Op-ed: Questions without Answers: the Venice Biennale 2012

2012-09-03T00:10:00-04:00

Architecture Biennale Venice 2012: Questions without answers
by Jaakko van ‘t Spijker

As opposed to what certain critics and commentators have suggested in about the opening week, they actually were there, the exhibitors with sociopolitical engagement asking relevant questions, at the 2012 Venice Architecture Biennale opening. What was lacking, however, were outspoken conclusions; the risky and exciting part of taking position after having made interesting observations. Where were the architectural mavericks, the polemical daredevils and provocateurs, to stir up and the debate and bring it further? It was in the Japanese pavilion that questions were asked as well as answered.

In one of the first pre-events of the Biennale, a surprise storm raged over the Venetian Laguna while in an old warehouse in Giudecca, MVRDV’s Winy Maas and his Delft University department The Why-Factory, put ‘the decline of the identity of The European City’ on the agenda by presenting a new EU C...

“Working with the 99%” Wins a Future Cities Prize in Venice

2012-08-31T19:13:00-04:00

Three winning projects were announced in the Future Cities, Planning for the 90 per cent competition: ateliermob (Portugal), Municipal Housing Secretariat of São Paulo (Brazil), and Interazioni Urbane (Italy). The projects are part of the exhibition Future Cities: Planning for the 90 per cent in Venice during the 13th Architecture Biennale. Ten projects were selected for the exhibition from more than 100 participants from several countries.

Portuguese practice ateliermob presents one of the three winning projects, "Working with the 99%," a case study of the progress and community work of Lisbon's self-built PRODAC neighborhood.

Click here to see more Archinect News posts related to the 13th International Architecture Exhibition of the Venice Biennale.

’Greenland Migrating’ at Denmark’s Venice Biennale Exhibition

2012-08-30T18:39:00-04:00

Last week, Bustler presented the project Connecting Greenland: AIR+PORT, designed by BIG, TENU, Julie Hardenberg and Inuk Silas Høgh, as part of the exhibition Possible Greenland in the Danish pavilion at the 13th International Architecture Exhibition in Venice, Italy. Today's featured project from Possible Greenland is Greenland Migrating, developed in a collaboration between Henning Larsen Architects, David Garcia Studio and KITAA Architects.

Click here to see more Archinect News posts related to the 13th International Architecture Exhibition of the Venice Biennale.

Toyo Ito, among others, announced as Golden Lion Winners at the 2012 Venice Architecture Biennale

2012-08-30T02:48:00-04:00

The 13th International Architecture Exhibition of la Biennale di Venezia opened its gates today and kicked off the events with the much anticipated Awards Ceremony in the Giardini. Golden Lions were presented to Toyo Ito, as representative of the Japanese Pavilion (Best National Participation Award), and the team Urban-Think Tank/Justin McGuirk, representing the exhibition Torre David / Gran Horizonte, 2012 (Best Project Award).

Click here to see more Archinect News posts related to the 13th International Architecture Exhibition of the Venice Biennale.

Wolf Prix attacks Chipperfield's 'banal' Venice Biennale

2012-08-29T21:14:00-04:00

Labelling the festival an ‘expensive dance of death’, the Coop Himmelb(l)au-founder went on to claim a ‘great’ biennale would have featured forums and themes looking ‘behind the scenes’ at decision-making ‘instead of boring exhibitions’.

Better source at Building Design, but their need for registration denies access to many.

It's About Time! SANAA's Kazuyo Sejima Becomes the Rolex Protege Program's First Architectural Mentor

2012-08-28T17:51:00-04:00

Sejima’s protégé will not be named until next month, although the young architect’s workload has already been prescribed: he or she will contribute over the course of a year to “Home for All,” a project helmed by Sejima and other Japanese architectural luminaries in response to 2011's tsunami and the ensuing housing crisis.

SPAINLAB: the Spanish Pavilion at the 13th Biennale of Architecture in Venice

2012-08-27T17:49:00-04:00

Innovation and research are the themes that define the work of the seven teams and the seven installations that articulate SPAINLAB, the exhibition at the Spanish Venice Biennale Pavilion curated by the architects Anton Garcia-Abril and Débora Mesa of Ensamble Estudio.

Click here to see more Archinect News posts related to the 13th International Architecture Exhibition of the Venice Biennale.

BIG at the Danish Pavilion in Venice

2012-08-23T15:36:00-04:00

BIG in collaboration with TENU, Julie Hardenberg and Inuk Silas Høgh present Connecting Greenland: AIR+PORT as a part of the exhibition “POSSIBLE GREENLAND” at the Danish Biennale di Venezia Pavilion, exploring the potentials and challenges that Greenland is facing as the country gains global attention.

Click here to see more Archinect News posts related to the 13th International Architecture Exhibition of the Venice Biennale.

"Is Counterculture Getting Mainstream?" Curating the Venice Architecture Biennale's Guerilla U.S. Pavilion

2012-08-06T14:36:00-04:00

That moment in modern guerilla urbanism [...], is one of the highlights of "Spontaneous Interventions: Design Actions for the Common Good," the American Pavilion's inherently political theme at this year's Venice Architecture Biennale. There will be no headlining starchitects or grandiose buildings. Instead, this year's pavilion presents this event and others like it, not as acts of whimsy, but rather as actions that address larger social issues.

Click here to see more Archinect News posts related to the 13th International Architecture Exhibition of the Venice Biennale.

Inter Cities / Intra Cities: Ghostwriting the Future - Hong Kong at the 13th Venice Biennale

2012-07-30T13:57:00-04:00

The Hong Kong Institute of Architects and Hong Kong Arts Development Council will participate in the 13th International Architecture Exhibition of la Biennale di Venezia with an exhibition focusing on the vital urban, architectural and cultural regeneration of Kowloon East, Hong Kong SAR. The exhibition is titled “Inter Cities / Intra Cities: Ghostwriting the Future”.

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First Images of Australia’s Venice Architecture Exhibition 2012

2012-07-17T14:44:00-04:00

The Australian Institute of Architects has unveiled plans and preview images of its exhibition, Formations: New Practices in Australian Architecture, which will open at the 2012 Venice Architecture Biennale this August. In the face of new economic, social and cultural challenges, the exhibition at the Australian Pavilion seeks to act as a catalyst for discussion and debate around the changing role of architects and the ways in which they influence the world around them.

Click here to see more Archinect News posts related to the 13th International Architecture Exhibition of the Venice Biennale.

peter zumthor + wim wenders = movie magic....

2012-07-08T07:59:00-04:00

"The internationally-renowned director Wim Wenders devotes his new film to Graubünden architect Peter Zumthor. Work on the project will take several years to complete. A taste of the film will be available August at the Venice Biennale."

ok - the translation's mine (and my german suspect) but apparently wim wenders is doing a long term documentary on zumthor's work. the primary gist of the movie will be to document - fully - one of his projects from sketch to completion. this could either be brilliant or maddeningly overdone....

Álvaro Siza Vieira Honored with Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement

2012-06-29T13:29:00-04:00

Álvaro Siza Vieira has been selected as laureate of the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement of this year’s International Architecture Exhibition in Venice, Italy. The board of la Biennale di Venezia, currently chaired by Paolo Baratta, under Director David Chipperfield, announced the decision this week, which also happens to be Siza's birthday week.

Click here to see more Archinect News posts related to the 13th International Architecture Exhibition of the Venice Biennale.

U.S. Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale Announces Participating Projects

2012-06-22T21:04:00-04:00

The U.S. Pavilion at the 13th International Architecture Exhibition of the Venice Biennale, organized by the Institute for Urban Design on behalf of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, will be devoted to the theme Spontaneous Interventions: Design Actions for the Common Good. The exhibit features 124 urban interventions initiated by architects, designers, planners, artists, and everyday citizens that bring positive change to their neighborhoods and cities.

Click here to see more Archinect News posts related to the 13th International Architecture Exhibition of the Venice Biennale.

IluminAction by UrbanoActivo Selected for Venice Architecture Biennale

2012-06-19T13:45:00-04:00

The project IlluminAction by UrbanoActivo, an open design collective from Puerto Rico, has been selected to represent the island in the 13th International Venice Architecture Biennale in Italy this fall (August 29 – November 25). The selection was narrowed from 450 project submissions nationwide and will be presented as part of the Spontaneous Interventions: Design Actions for the Common Good exhibition by The Institute for Urban Design.

This exhibit will be part of an archive of actionable strategies around U.S. cities to improve the public urban realm.

Click here to see more Archinect News posts related to the 13th International Architecture Exhibition of the Venice Biennale.

U.S. Pavilion at 13th Venice Architecture Biennale Launches Website and Open Call for Projects

2012-01-19T15:06:00-05:00

The U.S. Pavilion at the 13th Venice Architecture Biennale, devoted to the theme Spontaneous Interventions: Design Actions for the Common Good, has launched a new website to share information about the exhibition and to broaden the call for projects to be considered for inclusion.

Click here to see more Archinect News posts related to the 13th International Architecture Exhibition of the Venice Biennale.

David Chipperfield to curate 2012 Venice Biennale

2011-11-10T18:29:00-05:00

When his appointment is officially announced, the British architect – renowned for his cool, clear almost chaste designs, most notably his recent Turner Contemporary in Margate and the Hepworth Wakefield in Yorkshire – will have just eight months to come up with a theme for two huge group shows: one in the former rope works of the Arsenale; the other in the nearby Giardini.

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Venice Biennale is now Berlusconialley

2011-10-13T13:48:00-04:00

As long as cultural appointments in this rotten system are in the hands of the political lobbies, it will go on being like this. - Former mayor of Venice, Massimo Cacciari

Paolo Baratta, left, with this year's Venice Biennale director of visual arts Bice Curiger, is being replaced by Giulio Malgara, right

Venice Biennale (now Berlusconialley) replaces longtime chairman Paolo Baratta, with Giulio Malgara, a food importer and founder of a successful company that tracks television ratings, and, a close friend of Berlusconi, the Italian prime minister.

Top talent edged out

2011-08-08T14:31:00-04:00

GLENN Murcutt, Australia's most internationally recognised architect, famous for the expression ''touching the ground lightly'', won't be able to get his hands near the competition to design a new Australian Pavilion in Venice.