The 2014 Venice Architecture
Biennale will be open for six months rather than the usual three
and is one of the most highly anticipated editions of the
architecture event since it began in 1980.
Dutch curator Rem Koolhaas, 69, who was one of the young
exhibitors at the first edition organized by Paolo Portoghesi,
told a press conference recently that this year's biannual
extravaganza sought to "modernize the history of architecture"
by focusing on "the effect of modernization on countries and
architecture".
"Fundamentals", which was organized over a period of two
years, opened last weekend and continues through November 23 at
the Gardens of the Biennale and the Venetian Arsenal.
The exhibit seeks to describe the evolution of architecture
through its essential parts - from floors and doors to windows
and walls - departing from the usual insight into the
contemporary architectural scenario and focusing instead on an
historical approach.
This new perspective vies for the exhibit to be a vehicle
for research which will be "interesting not only for those
working in architecture" as "architecture survives only if it is
an inspiration for us all", said Biennale President Paolo
Baratta.
National pavilions in the Gardens will be curated for the
first time under one theme: "Absorbing Modernity: 1914-2014",
focusing on the forces of modernism over the last century,
across different countries, to highlight diverse national
approaches while creating a "uniform narrative", the curator
said.
The Arsenale will host "Monditalia", a portrait of Italy
outlined through the arts.
"I chose Italy because I believe it is a crucial country,
the most emblematic in the world, with its extraordinary
richness, though it was not always able to use all this
potential", Koolhaas said.
"Essential Elements of Architecture" will be showcased at
the central pavilion of the Gardens and will offer a thorough
insight into parts of buildings and what they represent,
including windows, stairs, fireplaces and toilets.
These basic architectural elements seen through their
evolution in time will vie to provide a powerful sense of the
relevance of architecture in its historical context.
Koolhaas, who numbers among his students "starchitects"
including Zaha Hadid, in particular stressed that this edition
of the Biennale was all about architecture, straying away from
the usual format focusing on the most up-to-date projects by
contemporary celebrity architects.
The Dutch curator, one of the most influential architects
of his generation who has shaken up established conventions,
started out by writing about the impact on architecture of
inventions like the elevator and false ceiling in his famous
1978 book Delirious New York: A Retroactive Manifesto for
Manhattan which examined the history of the skyscraper through
these innovations.
He has written half a dozen works on the evolution of
contemporary cities and designed worldwide projects for sites
ranging from the Libyan desert to suburban Paris.
His firm, the Office for Metropolitan Architects (OMA), has
offices in Rotterdam, New York, Beijing, Hong Kong and Doha.
"Along with being able to organize a Biennale which did not
only focus on contemporary architectural production but also
looked at the past and future, my demand to (Biennale President)
Baratta, in order to accept his invitation to direct, was to
have two years rather than one to organize the exhibit", said
Koolhaas.
The extra time was necessary in particular "to invest on
diverse ambitions, creating a uniform narrative on a specific
theme across various national pavilions".
Sixty-five countries will be represented at the exhibit
which will be inaugurated at 11 am Saturday with a ceremony to
award the Golden Lion for lifetime achievement to Canadian
philanthropist Phyllis Lambert.
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