deconarch

Some of you might wonder how I could not yet have mentioned the Biennale d’Archittetura in Venice. And indeed, of course, I’ve not forgotten about it, but I ‘ve been trying to go and see for myself. Well, now it became clear that I won’t be able to make it this year. Nevertheless I heard from a friend who’s been there and who’s not been too enthusiastic about the show – his judgment: too self-reflexive, too self-centered.

But let’s keep track of the events and move on step by step. First, the basic information:

The 11th architecture biennial took place in the Giardini and  the Arsenale of Venice from 14. September until 23. November2008 and was curated by Aaron Betsky.

Historical facts

(Cited from all-knowing wiki:) Mostra di Architettura di Venezia, the Architecture section of the Venice Biennale, was established in 1980, although architecture had been a part of the art biennale since 1975. [...]

As well as addressing the academic side of architecture, the Biennale is an occasion where big-name architects and designers can showcase new projects, arranged in different pavilions, each with different themes. The Biennale is currently held in the Biennale Gardens.

This year, Frank O. Gehry was awarded the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement.

Mostra Internazionale di Architettura 2008: OUT THERE: Architecture Beyond Building.

The curator of the 2008 biennial  Aaron Betsky, director of the Netherlands Architecutre Institut (NAI) in Rotterdam and since 2007 director of the Cincinnati Art Museum, chose the motto:  OUT THERE: Architecture Beyond Building .

(Well, somehow it’s all very beyond these days – it’s not for the first time that we have a “beyond” title.  One rather recent example is this.)

Posed objective was “to address the central issues of our society” and centered the fact “Architecture is not building. Architecture must go beyond buildings because buildings are not enough” (Betsky). Thus shown were not architectural buildings, but installations made by architects. Furthermore Betsky is cited in the official program description as well as in Betsky’s foreword:

“Most buildings are ugly, useless and wasteful. Yet architecture is beautiful – says Betsky – it can place us in the world in a way no other art can. It can make us at home in modern reality. It offers and shapes that most precious and luxurious of all phenomena in the modern world: space. The exhibition seeks is to collect and encourage experimentation in architecture. Such experimentation can take the form of momentary constructions, visions of other worlds, or the building blocks of a better world. It does not want to present buildings that are already in existence and can be enjoyed in real life. It does not want to propose abstract solutions to social problems, but wants to see if architecture, by experimenting in and on the real world, can offer some concrete forms or seductive images”.

Comments on the Biennial

Some photographic impressions are shared by Bola Blog, dezeen and bd (! all mostly photos, no comments).

Opinions mostly tend to reject the event, though as always you can’t just pull one unique comment out of the hat, there were better and worse projects to see (again, as I’ve not been there myself I have to restrain from making a judgment myself ;-) but I want to collect and share some opinions I found online.) But obviously Betsky’s non-academic, non-scholarly challenge didn’t lead to convincing results in most of the cases.

Helpful descriptions structured like a tour through the exhibit are these articles on Architectural Record , the Guardian and the LA Times.

Kieran Long from the Architect’s Journal makes quite a point: “Venice architecture biennale is like nerds talking about sex” he titles his article.

DavidReportBlog, however, points out why the common opinion obviously “must” consider the Biennial unsuccessful, even though this might be a little too short-sighted:

“This years Biennale has touched on inquiries sidereal to ‘canonical architecture’ so, for that reason alone, we will be hearing many people say that this years Biennale was ‘unsuccessful’,  since inevitably some of the experimentation was perhaps better left to ‘specialists’ in their fields (filmmakers, artists, etc,), but I fully believe that every now and then, a Biennale needs to be conceived in order to shake up pre-conceptions of who does what, but more importantly, on what needs to be done.”

And finally, in the British Telegraph a personal curatorial statement by Ellis Woodman how curated the British Pavilion.