HOTEL POLONIA. THE AFTERLIFE OF BUILDINGS
11th International Architecture Exhibition in Venice 2008
Polish Pavilion
Artists: Nicolas Grospierre, Kobas Laksa
Pavilion commissioner Agnieszka Morawińska
Commissioner’s assistant Zofia Machnicka
Exhibition curators Grzegorz Piątek & Jarosław Trybuś
Opening reception: September 12th 2008, 16.15 pm, Gardini di Castello
Exhibition: 14 September – 23 November 2008
organizer
Zacheta National Gallery of Art
Pl. Malachowskiego 3
00-916 Warsaw, Poland
It is only what’s fluid, continuously reborn and redefined that stands a chance of surviving in the liquid reality. For that matter, due to limitations of technology, lengthy procedures, outsized ego of the architects and clients as well as the subconscious focus on Vitruvian durability, architecture proves increasingly cumbersome. It deems itself everlasting. It is a particularly perverse attitude in an era when information and cash flows may easily upset the world’s equilibrium.
We are presenting 6 buildings raised in Poland within the last decade. Each of them is shown in photographs by Nicolas Grospierre. The edifices represent different styles and tastes. What they have in common is their rank and prominence. As for their base level, it is the faith in infinite lasting and permanence of architecture as well as in its acquired, prestigious function. Possible scenarios of a change have been visualised by Kobas Laksa. The Venice Polonia Pavilion has undergone the same procedure as the Polish buildings on display. We have given it an alternative life by converting it into a place to stay for the night, during the first days of the Biennale. Hotel Polonia in the green holiday resort of Giardini di Castello? Not necessarily a utopia.
Architecture Beyond Building begins on the point of handover. It is also the human impact and the passage of time that constitute architecture. We would like to trigger a debate on durability.
For further information please contact: Zofia Machnicka z.machnicka@zacheta.art.pl
Polish participation in the 11th International Architecture Exhibition is realized with the financial support of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Poland.
sponsors: Poliform, Mood Design, White & Case
media patronage: Architektura-murator, Gazeta Wyborcza, Polityka, TVP, TOK FM, The Warsaw Voice, Onet.pl, empik.
