We are at the Venice Biennale! Our top 4 highlights
At 4 S Architecture, we take pride in our knowledge of the latest architectural thinking, trends and practices. This informs our proposals, making sure that each and every one of our clients can benefit from the expertise of a practice that is at the forefront of the architectural profession. To stay abreast of the latest developments, we periodically visit the key architecture and design events worldwide. Earlier this year, we visited the renowned Clerkenwell Design Week in London – you can read all about it, as well as our selection of highlights from that event, by clicking on the link.
This week we have visited the Venice Biennale di Architettura, taking place in Venice’s Giardini, Arsenale, and other selected venues across the city. The Architecture Biennale takes place every two years, starting in May and running all the way up to November. Every year, a curator selects a theme and invites architectural practices to respond to this theme. This year’s theme, chosen by Ghanaian-Scottish curator Lesley Lokko, is titled ‘The Laboratory of the Future’. Lokko’s aim was to showcase under-represented talent from Africa and the world.
Here are our top 4 Highlights of pavilions that have inspired us the most during our visit:
1/ Japanese Pavilion
Figure 1: Akane Moriyama’s translucent tent roof design. Image credit: 4 S Architecture.
This year, the curators of the Japanese Pavilion have decided to shine a light on the building itself, designed in the 1950s by Takamasa Yoshizaka. The exhibition curated in the pavilion is titled ‘Architecture, a place to be loved’, and features work by team members with diverse niches of expertise, including various crafts in addition to architecture. Through their designs, each of the team members has created an opportunity to relate to the Pavilion and to the theme.
We fell in love with the three-dimensional translucent tent roof design attached to the facade of the Pavilion, by Akane Moriyama. It was beautiful in the way that it caught the natural light of the Mediterranean, and had depth whilst remaining firmly rooted in the language of textile.
2/ Swiss and Venezuelan Pavilions
Figure 2: Bruno Giacometti’s Swiss Pavilion. Image credit: 4 S Architecture.
Figure 3: This year’s collaboration between the Swiss and Venezuelan pavilions features a large rug showcasing the original drawings for both buildings. Image credit: 4 S Architecture.
In Venice’s Giardini, the Pavilions for Switzerland and Venezuela are unique in that they share a wall. The Pavilions were designed by Bruno Giacometti and Carlo Scarpa, respectively. We particularly enjoy Giacometti’s original design, which is elegant, with impossibly thin steel columns.
In response to this year’s theme for the Biennale, the curators have removed a part of the wall and several gates in order to expand on the topic of ‘Neighbours’, which gives title to the Swiss exhibition in particular. Further, we enjoyed the approach of creating a large rug showcasing the original drawings for both buildings, which is shown inside the Swiss pavilion.
3/ Nordic Pavilion
Figure 4: Sverre Fehn’s Nordic pavilion, with trees inside the building, going through the roof. Image credit: 4 S Architecture.
Figure 5: Sverre Fehn’s Nordic pavilion, with trees inside the building, going through the roof. Image credit: 4 S Architecture.
Every time we are in Venice, we enjoy visiting Sverre Fehn’s masterpiece, completed in 1962 to unite the three nordic nations of Norway, Sweden, and Finland. We loved the way light filtered through the concrete fin lattice, and the trees inside the building, going through the roof.
4/ British Pavilion
Figure 6: This year’s installations at the British Pavilion, in the foreground; and Venice’s Giardini in the background. Image credit:
A special mention to the British Pavilion, curated by Jayden Ali, Joseph Henry, Meneesha Kellay and Sumitra Upham, guiding us through the work of six UK-based artists and architects. Through film and objects, the team ‘highlight the central role that rituals play in reflecting the traditions and community values of people living in the UK.
Aside from the Biennale, Venice is a fantastic city to visit. Its medieval and Renaissance buildings inspire us every time, from its selection of differently coloured marbles, to its stucco that has acquired the patina of time. The Biennale is a perfect opportunity to experience innovation alongside built heritage – a combination we are passionate about. If you are, too, why not get in touch with us to see how we can work together?