Social Housing Takes Center Stage at Venice Architecture Biennale
The 15th International Architecture Exhibition in Venice, overseen by Alejandro Aravena, centered on the theme of social housing. The British Pavilion displayed full-scale models representing modern living. Germany positioned itself as a welcoming space for migration. France’s Nouvelles Richesses highlighted community-driven projects, featuring five affordable homes located in Saint-Denis. LAN Architecture revitalized the Génicart district in Lormont, improving social housing units. The UAE showcased sha'abi housing from the 1970s, illustrating alterations made by residents. The German firm BEL introduced a blue foam model focused on incremental urban development. The Italian Pavilion presented TAM Associati's mobile tools for urban intervention. Portugal engaged with Álvaro Siza Vieira's incomplete Campo di Marte project, including interviews with residents, during which Siza admitted to a design error concerning a bathroom window.
Key facts
- 15th International Architecture Exhibition in Venice, 2016
- Curated by Alejandro Aravena
- British Pavilion explored contemporary living through 1:1 scale models
- Germany presented nation as open house for migration
- France's Nouvelles Richesses showcased grassroots social housing initiatives
- Saint-Denis project: five affordable homes with public construction site
- LAN Architecture renovated Génicart district in Lormont by thickening external skin
- UAE focused on sha'abi housing from 1970s with resident modifications
- BEL studio presented incremental urbanization maquette reinterpreting Maison Dom-Ino
- TAM Associati created mobile devices for urban intervention in Italian Pavilion
- Portugal occupied unfinished Campo di Marte by Álvaro Siza at Giudecca
- Siza's video interviews with residents of his social housing projects
- Siza admitted bathroom window omission was a mistake
Entities
Artists
- Alejandro Aravena
- Álvaro Siza Vieira
- Anne-Julchen Bernhardt
- Jörg Leeser
- Robert Doisneau
- Le Corbusier
- Alessandro Benetti
Institutions
- La Biennale di Venezia
- British Pavilion
- German Pavilion
- French Pavilion
- LAN Architecture
- BEL Anne-Julchen Bernhardt and Jörg Leeser
- TAM Associati
- Portuguese Pavilion
- Italian Pavilion
- United Arab Emirates Pavilion
- Artribune
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- Saint-Denis
- France
- Lormont
- Génicart
- The Hague
- Netherlands
- Berlin
- Germany
- Porto
- Portugal
- Giudecca
- Campo di Marte
- Schilderswijk
- Schesisches Tor
- Bouça