Estonia's Biennale Pavilion Is a Rented Apartment

For the 2023 Venice Architecture Biennale, the Estonian Pavilion, titled 'Home Stage,' is a rented apartment near the Arsenale's rear exit. Curated by Aet Ader, Arvi Anderson, and Mari Möldre of b210 Architects, the project transforms the domestic space into a stage for durational performances. Nine Estonian performers, selected from about 125 applicants, live in the apartment for one month each, blurring the line between private life and public spectacle. The curators describe it as 'a liminal situation between real life and performance.' The work explores the dual nature of housing as both a home and a financial asset, addressing the housing crisis in Venice and Estonia. Ader notes that in Estonia, over 80% of the population owns homes, often financed through debt, and the country lacks a national housing strategy. The pavilion raises ethical questions about biennials' impact on local housing markets, as the team rented the apartment at high cost for six months. Performers engage visitors in conversations about their own homes, dreams, and local real estate policies. The project includes carefully designed furnishings that highlight keywords like speculation, vacation, devaluation, personal, unique, and dwelling.