The installation curated by Ole Bouman and Juulia Kauste aims to respond to the Biennale’s theme, which focuses on the timeless basics of architecture. The two wooden structures were built by Finnish and Chinese teams-the project was developed in collaboration with theShenzhen BI-CITY Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture (UABB)-and are presented in front of the pavilion designed by Alvar Aalto in 1956. Their simplicity strikes up a complex dialogue between architects and local builders and embraces an appreciation for traditional building techniques.
Related: Zaha Hadid and Leading Architects Design Antarctica’s First Pavilion for 2014 Venice Biennial
The theme of Absorbing Modernity, set by the Biennale’s curator Rem Koolhaas, is addressed by establishing the connection between new structures and the famous Finnish Pavilion. The Pavilion’s use of material and natural lighting is revisited by embracing the concepts of modularity and traditional construction processes. Located at the opposite entrances of the Pavilion, the Finnish and the Chinese installation add a new perspective to the reading of modernist architecture.
+ OOPEAA Office for Peripheral Architecture
+ Shenzhen BI-CITY Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture (UABB)
+ Inhabitat’s Coverage of the 14th International Architecture Exhibition in Venice
