Alejandro Aravena Reporting from the Front Venice International Architecture Exhibition

On August 31 Alejandro Aravena, Rem Koolhaas’ successor as curator of the Architecture Biennale in Venice, presented the theme of the 15th International Architecture Exhibition scheduled for May 28 through November 27 2016 in Venice.
“Reporting from the Front” is the title of the 2016 exhibition, which, as the architect explains, is “bringing to a broader audience, what is it like to improve the quality of life while working on the margins, under tough circumstances, facing pressing challenges. Or what does it take to be on the cutting edge trying to conquer new fields. We would like to learn from architectures that despite the scarcity of means intensify what is available instead of complaining about what is missing”.

If the ultimate purpose of architecture is to improve the quality of the built environment and therefore people’s lives, Aravena is ready to adjust our notion of success, seeking out examples of little improvements made in response to major problems, examples of “design as added value instead of an extra cost or architecture as a shortcut towards equality”.

After Rem Koolhaas’ curatorship of Fundamentals investigating the elements that make up architecture today, the edition curated by Aravena intends to restore the discipline’s role in society by highlighting examples in which “architecture makes the difference,” according to Biennale chair Paolo Baratta.

(Agnese Bifulco)

Alejandro Aravena and Paolo Baratta - Photo by Giorgio Zucchiatti - Courtesy of Biennale di Venezia


Title: Reporting from the Front International Architecture Exhibition Venice
Dates: May 28 through November 27 2016
Location: Venice, Italy

www.labiennale.org

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