Venice Architecture Biennale

Arsenal Building in Venice

Ever since its foundation in 1895, the Venice Biennale is at the forefront of promoting new artistic trends and organizing international events in contemporary arts in accordance with a multi-disciplinary model which characterizes its uniqueness. It is world-beating for the International Film Festival, the Art Exhibition and the International Architecture Exhibition, to the Festival of Music and Theatre, and the latest Dance Festival.

“Fundamentals” is the title of the 14th edition of the Venice Architecture Biennale, curated by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas.

Rem Koolhaas intends that this biennial "focus on architecture rather than architects” and proposes three interrelated exhibitions: Absorbing Modernity 1914-2014, Elements of Architecture and Monditalia, focusing on the past, present and future of architecture.

Rem Koolhaas

“Absorbing Modernity: 1914-2014” calls for a reflection on the erasure of different national architectural identities, exploring and questioning how modernity and globalization have contributed to form the architecture we practice today, a global architecture towards a modern unique aesthetic that, in Koolhaas words, produces " the same stuff, with the same materials, in the same styles".

"Elements of Architecture” will focus on the fundamental elements of our buildings, used by each architect, in every time and in every place: floors, walls, ceilings, roofs, doors, windows, facades, balconies, hallways, fireplaces services, stairs, escalators, elevators or ramps.

"Monditalia” assigns a specific theme - Italy - with exhibitions, performances and events that will affect the architecture, politics, economics, religion, technology and industry. The other areas of the Venice Biennale - Cinema, Dance, Music and Theatre - will be involved to assist in the representation of the country.

Central Pavilion

Elaborated by the architect Pedro Campos Costa, with production and consulting from Trienal de Arquitectura de Lisboa, the Portuguese participation in Venice will explore the theme "Homeland - News From Portugal" in the Arsenal building, one of the main spaces of the biennale, and will feature 12 Portuguese architecture practices: Adoc Architects, André Tavares, Artéria, Ateliermob, Like Architects, Mariana Pestana, Miguel Eufrásia, Miguel Marcelino, Paulo Moreira, Pedro Clarke, Sami Arquitectos and Susana Ventura.

The event takes place from June 7 to November 23, 2014 and brings together 65 countries, including 11 newcomers in this edition: Azerbaijan, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Kenya, Morocco, New Zealand and Turkey.