Chile Pavilion at 2018 Venice Architecture Biennale to Explore Urban Segregation

Alejandra Celedón has been appointed curator of the Chile Pavilion at the 16th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, running from May 26 to November 25, 2018. Her project, titled "Stadium," addresses urban segregation in Chile during the 1980s housing policies. The pavilion focuses on three historical events: the 1962 FIFA World Cup, the use of the stadium as a detention and torture center in 1973, and Pope John Paul II's 1980 visit to Santiago. These events illustrate the transformation of the stadium's function since its construction in 1938. Celedón, who holds a Master's from University College London and a PhD from the Architectural Association School of Architecture, researches architectural strategies and urban housing policies in 1980s Chile. The concept aligns with the Biennale's theme "Freespace," curated by Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara of Grafton Architects, which explores architecture's role in everyday life and its ability to provide free and complementary spaces. The pavilion originates from a 40-year-old housing plan discovered by Celedón's former assistant, Eneritz Hernández, in San Ramón.