Tallinn Architecture Biennale 2022

Imagining a circular architecture capable of generating its own resources and of self-decomposing, reaching as far as the unusual juxtaposition of food and architecture: this is the interesting reflection proposed by the theme of the 6th edition of the Tallinn Architecture Biennial, which opened its doors to the public on September 7 in the capital of Estonia. Until November 20, the Estonian Centre for Architecture and other venues throughout the city will host the Biennial curated by Lydia Kallipoliti and Areti Markopoulou, in collaboration with local consultant Ivan Sergejev and curatorial assistant Sonia Sobrino Ralston. The curators' intention is to question the extractive, consumptive and contaminating nature of the built environment and thus of the discipline in general, inquiring whether it is possible to imagine an architecture that produces resources, digests its own waste and is self-decomposing. The Biennial invites architects, designers and the public to reflect on the parallel between the discipline – and its cities and buildings – and the natural processes of metabolism that allow organisms to grow, maintain their structure and respond to the stresses of the external environment.
The curatorial exhibition entitled "Edible", featuring a selection of projects arranged in five thematic groups is particularly representative of this concept. The first of these themes, Metabolic Home consists of seven installations illustrating how food-related metabolic processes are connected to everyday domestic spaces and activities. From Brick to Soil presents edible, upcycled, productive and compostable prototypes and building components. Food and Geopolitics explores issues of a global relevance concerning mass migration and food sourcing in harsh environmental conditions and conflict zones. The Archaeology of Architecture and Food Systems presents an archive of radical projects conceived by architects and artists throughout the 20th century. Finally, the Future Food Deal thematic group focuses on visionary projects and manifestos that explore how, at a time of increasing urbanisation, architecture can play an important role in solving the problem of alienation between people and food souring.
In addition to the curatorial exhibition, the Tallinn Biennial includes four other main events (a symposium, the Vision competition exhibition, an installation programme and an international architecture schools exhibition), together with a satellite programme featuring a wide range of exhibitions, concerts and family events.

(Agnese Bifulco)

Images courtesy of Tallinn Architecture Biennale – TAB 2022

“Edible; Or, The Architecture of Metabolism” Tallinn Architecture Biennale - TAB 2022 https://2022.tab.ee/

Dates: September 7 – November 20, 2022
Head Curators: Lydia Kallipoliti (Greece/USA), Areti Markopoulou (Greece/Spain)
Local Advisor: Ivan Sergejev (Estonia)
Assistant curator: Sonia Sobrino Ralston (USA)
Production: Eve Arpo, Anna Lindpere, Anu Lill (Estonian Centre for Architecture)
Curatorial Exhibition Production: Ronja Soopan
Installation Project Manager: Kati Valbet
Graphic Design: Stuudio Stuudio (Mikk Heinsoo)
Exhibition Design: kse studio (Sofia Krimizi & Kyriakos Kyriakou)
Catalog Editor: Zulaikha Ayub

Captions and Credits

01 - 03 Architecture of Metabolism - Building infrastructures that produce resources and digest waste ©TAB 2022 curatorial team
02 TAB 2022 teaser
04 From Waste to Matter - Waste as construction material ©TAB 2022 curatorial team
05 Edible Facades - Organic Waste-based wall panels ©TAB 2022 curatorial team
06 Transspecies Kitchen by Andrés Jaque / Office for Political Innovation with M-Marble Project Stones of the Transspecies Kitchen ©Office for Political Innovation
07 The Friendship WC by Caroline O’Donnell (Ecological Action Lab) Mock-up of Shishi Odoshi modules ©Ecological Action Lab
08 Eat Me, Build Me by Sharon Yavo Ayalon and Lola Ben-Alon Using traditional adobe moulds for the brick making process ©Sharon Yavo Ayalon & Lola Ben-Alon
09 Yfaloid by Iason Pantazis and Evangelos Pantazis (Topotheque Design Research Studio) Segment of artificial reef prototype in situ ©Topotheque Design Research Studio
10 Tallinn Bird Factory aviary, which can hold 6,000 chickens (1966). Haapsalu and Lääne County Museums Foundation. ©Tallinn Bird Factory, which can hold 6,000 chickens., HM F 118: 283 Ff, Haapsalu and Lääne County Museums Foundation
11 Kurtna Experimental Poultry Station Laboratory (1960-1970) ©Kurtna Linnukasvatuse Katsejaam. Laboratooriumis, EPM FP 290:23, Eesti Maaelumuuseumid SA, Eesti Põllumajandusmuuseum
12 Reinu Farm Kitchen ©Reinu talu köök, ERM Fk 2906:571, Eesti Rahva Muuseum
13 Greenhouse of Pärnu Nature House (2013), collected from Kodumaa picture competition (2015) ©Pärnu Nature House Greenhouse, ERM Fk 2991: 139, Estonian National Museum
14 Synthetic Crystalliedron by Claudia Pasquero and Marco Poletto (ecoLogicStudio) Rendering of Synthetic Crystalliedron ©ecoLogicStudio
15 Interface Organism by Siim Karro (Myceen) Rendering of Interface Organism ©Myceen
16 RootSkin: From Soil to Soil by Chiara Farinea Detail of RootSkin membrane ©Advanced Architecture Group (AAG)
17 Black Almanac by Philip Maughan and Andrea Provenzano Cooking with information ©Philip Maughan and Andrea Provenzano
18 FATCONOMY: Of Material & Labour by Robert Charles Johnson Film still from “Of Material & Labour”. Cooper’s fat equipment, a refurbished kebab machine © Directed, produced, written, and co-edited by Robert Charles Johnson. Cinematography and co-editing by Jan Stöckel
19 Sowing Worlds by Rania Ghosn and El Hadi Jazairy (DESIGN EARTH) “LifeStock” drawing ©DESIGN EARTH Sowing Worlds team
20 Design for Disassembly by Dillon Pranger, Marlee Barnes, Molly (Meng) Ma, Maxwell Rodencal
21 Hardware Stories by Alicia Lazzaroni and Antonio Bernacchi (Animali Domestici), Jakob Sieder-Semlitsch and Lynn Hyun Kieffer
22 Hemp-it-yourself by Hannah Segerkrantz ph ©Ringo Gomez Jorge

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