THE NETHERLANDS PRESENT:
ArchiPhoenix
Faculties for Architecture
September 14 – November 23, 2008
At the 11th International
Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia
www.facultiesforarchitecture.org
The fire that destroyed the Architecture Faculty of the Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) last spring seems to herald the end of an era. This faculty has produced architects who have achieved an international name and fame as a building generation. The fire seems to open a new age, it gives architecture community a chance to reposition itself and the opportunity to question whether thinking in terms of buildings is the solution to the issues and demands that we will face in the near future.
During the International Architecture Exhibition in Venice we research what are the burning questions for architecture at the moment, where the commitment of architecture lies, which values are important, which areas are in need of exploration, and which attitude and expertise an architect ought to develop. The Netherlands Architecture Institute is presenting an inquiry into the potential capacities of architecture under the title ‘ArchiPhoenix – Faculties for Architecture’. If the phoenix rises from the ashes, what form should that resurrection take? In that way hinting on possible answers to the question raised by director of the 11th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia, Aaron Betsky, in giving this biennale the theme ‘Out There: Architecture beyond Building’.
International inquiry
During the preview days of the 11th International Architecture Biennale of Venice from September 11 to September 14 2008 the Dutch Pavilion is a platform for research on the possible futures of architecture and a debating platform where the public can participate in lectures, round table discussions, interviews, a workshop, informal conversations and speed dates. Professionals present on the preview days are invited to join in thinking about the future of their discipline on the basis of five prospects: How we work – about designing in a network manner, beyond the ‘starchitect’; Why we make – about sustainable social relations, beyond the economic motives; For whom we make – about new clients, beyond the vested authorities; What we make – about processual architecture, beyond the artifact; and What it takes to make (and un-make) – about the flow of sources of energy, material and people, beyond sustainability.
Production on location
ArchiPhoenix turns the pavilion into a production space where an international team of architects, writers, designers, editors, a film team and critics will work continuously on the production of a book that proposes an imaginary architecture curriculum. The findings of a week of research and debate will result in an exhibition produced on location. The exhibition ArchiPhoenix will be open to the public in the Dutch pavilion from Monday 15 September to Sunday 23 November.
Preview program
In the course of round table discussions on Thursday 11 September, speed dates on Friday 12 September and lectures on Saturday 13 September, architectural professionals such as Alejandro Aravena from Elemental, Lorenzo Romito from Stalker/ON, Markus Miessen, Rem Koolhaas from OMA, Jan Jongert from 2012 Architecten, Irit Rogoff, and John Thackara and will present their preferable visions of the way the discipline could develop. The detailed program and live streaming of the lectures and debates can be found on:
www.facultiesforarchitecture.org
Opening
The Chief Government Architect Liesbeth van der Pol will officially open the Dutch submission to the 11th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia at 18:00 hrs on Friday 12 September.
BuildingforBouwkunde
Ronald Plasterk, the Dutch Minister of Education, Culture and Science, will launch the international competition for ideas ‘BuildingforBouwkunde’ in the Dutch pavilion at 13:00 hrs on Saturday 13 September: www.buildingforbouwkunde.nl
The Dutch submission to the Architecture Biennial has been organized by the Netherlands Architecture Institute at the invitation of the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.
Commissioned by Ole Bouman
Curated by Saskia van Stein and STEALTH.unlimited (Ana Dzokic, Marc Neelen)
Press communication: Marlies Dijkstra, Netherlands Architecture Institute,
+31 (0)6 26242848, press@nai.nl
