"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," Alejandro Aravena states in the announcement. "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." 

Employing a militaristic tone, Aravena is signalling an aggressive positioning for next year's Biennale, as well as a clear political stance. "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," he states.

The Chilean architect is known for his work with his firm Alejandro Aravena Architects, as well as with ELEMENTAL, an “Urban Do Tank” that focuses on social housing, which he founded and currently directs. Aravena will likely bring this experience into play in his role as curator, with a focus on inspiring examples of socially-conscious architectural “success stories."

"The 15th International Architecture Exhibition will be about focusing and learning from architectures that by balancing intelligence and intuition are able to escape the status quo," Aravena says. "We would like to present cases that despite the difficulties (or maybe because of them), instead of resignation or bitterness, propose and do something. We would like to show that in the permanent debate about the quality of the built environment, there is not only need but also room for action."

In part, this focus on action is a counterpose to last year's "Fundamentals," curated by Rem Koolhaas, that took a more cerebral, research-based approach. 

Paolo Baratta, the President of the Venice Biennale, further articulates the focus on public-oriented, social architectures, saying, "Architecture by helping the creation of private space also creates public space. These two spaces are created jointly. Being able to consciously enjoy public space is a benefit extended freely to everyone, and its enjoyment by one member of society does not limit the ability of others to do the same. And this is the essence of a public good."

"A refusal to get involved risks setting us on a dangerous path Staying above the fray leads to no longer knowing what questions to ask, and not being able to imagine different and alternative solutions – or to frustration on account of unrealizable proposals."

For more on the 2016 Venice Biennale:

• Participating architects announced for the US Pavilion of the 2016 Venice Biennale
• Chilean architect Alejandro Aravena named architecture director of 2016 Venice Biennale
• Monica Ponce de Leon and Cynthia Davidson will curate US Pavilion at 2016 Venice Biennale
• U.S. Pavilion at the 2016 Venice Biennale, "The Architectural Imagination", now open for submissions