Here comes finally the post of my visit to the Architecture Biennale this year. I have loads of images but I thought it could be nice to show you a sum up of the five pavilions I liked most and give you a little insight of the concept behind. The interesting point here is, I was much more drawn to  the proposal of smaller countries with possibly a smaller budget but a fresher design. I am perfectly aware that this is not a typical post but Travel Treasures is not necessarily related to beautiful wallpaper or nice interiors, and I am curious to hear what you think today.

Curated by the renowned Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, the 14th International Architectural Exhibition-titeled “Fundamentals”- returns to the timeless basics of architecture featuring 66 pavilions. These national pavilions explore global and local trends under the theme of “Absorbing Modernity: 1914-2014”.

Let’s kick off with the Finnish Pavilion designed by Alvar Aalto in 1956, Re-Creation is a two-part installation based on a concept by Anssi Lassila. One part of the installation was constructed by a Finnish master carpenter (pic 5) and his team, and the other by a Chinese team.

Together the two parts strike up a complex dialogue between the architects and builders. Re-Creation is the result of a deliberate and mutual exposure of the almost timeless architecture fundamentals of a nation to the rapidly changing cultural realities of a modern city: Finland and Shenzhen. A Nordic nation, famous for its calm and serenity meets a city, famous for its speed at the heart of Pearl River Delta.

With two primitive huts (one from solid wood, the other made of bamboo) that the visitor can enjoy from within, the installation provides two examples of space and shelter at their purest. A still very universal need, I believe.

The Serbian Pavilion was surrounded by the nicest park close to a lovely canal, and the installation would not disappoint either.

The daylight-filled interior of the exhibition space is the framework for a hundred significant architectural projects between 1914 and 2014, while the surroundings are dedicated to the project of the Museum of the Revolution of Nations and Nationalities of Yugoslavia by the Croatian architect Vjenceslav Richter.

What seems to be printed paper here is in reality a thin colored wooden surface. It was far too hot in there but I liked the mise-en-scene a lot!

The Austrian Pavilion was another highlight. You never guess what are you getting inside, the buildings have no windows and it is always a total surprise. This exhibition is called Plenum- Places of Power.

The parliament represents the place where the power of the people has found its home. The assembly of 196 parliaments as 1.500 scale models here on the walls creates a parliament of parliaments, a plenum of similarities and differences, where monumentality becomes ornament through…guess what…repetition!

The installation itself is entertaining and super inspiring and what strikes most is to read to which country these parliaments belong to. The number of habitants or size of the country has nothing to do with the size of the building itself. It seems in some countries we talk more about a question of status. Or would you have assumed that Myanmar had one of the biggest parliaments in the world?

Then there was the Czech Republic Pavilion which I loved because of its simplicity in design and communication. One might find it a bit gloomy but there was plenty of light in it.

Before World War II, apartment buildings for workers represented the development of the fifth most advanced economy in the world. New cities for the emerging mining industry were formed in the 1950s and the increasing housing standard changed most of the cities in Czechoslovakia in the 19070s. The come back of family homes after the velvet revolution of 1989 may conclude the story of the most common architectural type in the country.

Expozition presents the journey from a worker’s house towards collective housing of the communist era and subsequent return to family homes after 1989.

And this was another very nice  (loved the colors here) and super informative  proposal, one of those you have to spend time and do learn a lot:  Forms of Freedom: African Independence and Nordic Models. The teaming up of these 6 countries is already very promising. Don’t you think?

The liberation of Tanzania, Kenya and Zambia in the 1969s took place at the same time with the founding of state development aid in the Nordic countries with the belief that the social democratic model could be exported, translated, and used for nation-building, modernization and welfare in Africa. And this is what I love about the Nordic nations!

The leaders of the new African states wanted partners without a murky colonial past, and established solid bonds with the Nordic countries. During a few intense years in the 60s and 70s, Nordic architects contributed to the rapid process of modernization in this part of Africa stated on the several panels, photography and videos throughout the exhibition.

I have seen dozens of different exhibitions and couldn’t say which one is my favorite here but these five were those I remembered more. We have been visiting and working at the Biennale during 4 days and I just can tell you, you don’t manage to see everything but I highly recommend the Biennale (open still until November,23rd). Just the surrounding of the Giardini and Arsenale are so pretty, it’s worth the entire visit.

I have to admit many concepts were just too intellectual for me but getting out of my ‘interior design zone’ is one of my educational goals this year and -boy- did I get out of my comfort zone! I would definitely go again and think of planning a visit next year to the Art Biennale which takes place once every two years (and is not less intellectual:-)

PD: And in case you missed it, this was another very pretty installation in Venice:  800.000 golden mosaic stones!