Estonia opens international call for projects for country's exposition at the next La Biennale di Venezia Architecture Exhibition

Estonia opens international call for projects for country's exposition at the next La Biennale di Venezia Architecture Exhibition

Estonian Centre of Architecture is looking for a project to represent Estonia at the 16th  international architecture biennial in Venice. The first stage of the two-stage public international curator competition will close on the 31st of May, 2017 at 12 noon (GMT +2), with 5 proposals moving onto the second stage, where all 5 proposals are to be presented publicly on the 15th June 2017 in Tallinn. The winner of the competition will be announced on the 19th of June 2017. 

The Venice Architecture Biennale continues to grow, for instance in visitor numbers: if in 2012 the Biennale attracted more than 178,000 visitors, then in 2014 the number rose to 228,000 visitors, and in 2016, visitation rose again by 14% to 260,000. One of the key reasons is that the event brings together a global perspective and dialogue on how to advance our living environment through architectural means. The recent editions have highlighted expositions that use architecture almost as pretext to visualise social and political issues. Yet the focus has been, and will be for 2018 on “the quality of the public and private space, of urban space, of the territory and of the landscape as the main ends of architecture“, as formulated by the President of the Biennale, Paolo Baratta when introducing the curators of the 16th La Biennale di Venezia Architecture Exhibition, Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara. 

The proposals for the Estonian exposition should reflect both current global issues and important aspects of the ideas and practice of contemporary Estonian architecture, focussing on what makes architecture a relevant practice at present. International teams entering the competition are expected to include persons competent in and familiar with Estonian architecture. Entries can be either in Estonian or English, the competition is open for proposals by art theorists, architects, designers, interior designers, historians and curators of other professions related to the field of architecture.

Jury member, architect and adviser on architecture and design at the Estonian Ministry of Culture, Veronika Valk expects successful curatorial proposals to have conceptual rigour and intellectual relevance: "The Estonian exposition is expected to inspire and evoke, evidence the venturous nature of our architecture, curiosity for the world and international level of reflection capable of engaging the broader audience. Also to showcase our commitment to analytical design thinking, experimental culture and blooming creativity. To explore and reveal the contemporary experience of architecture for the Estonian society. The exhibition is expected to put Estonia’s advancements in the field of architecture and urban design on a global stage in a captivating way. The winning proposal should be thought-provoking and carry a potent concept that delivers the essence of contemporary Estonian architecture."

The competition and the Estonian exhibition at the 16th Biennale di Venezia Architecture Exhibition are organised by the Estonian Centre of Architecture in co-operation with the Union of Estonian Architects and with support from Estonian Ministry of Culture and Estonian Cultural Endowment.