Three City of Sydney projects have been selected to feature as part of the Australian contingent at the world’s top architecture showcase.
Waterloo Youth and Community Services, Prince Alfred Park and Pool, and the Glebe foreshore walk will show in the Australian Pavilion at the 2018 Venice Architecture Biennale as part of the exhibit titled Repair.
The biannual global event attracts the world’s best architectural minds and provides an opportunity for architects and designers to showcase new projects.
Australia has one of only 30 permanent pavilions for the display of new national works. Opened by Cate Blanchett ahead of the 2015 Art Biennale, the award-winning Australian Pavilion is the only 21st century building in Venice.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the fact that of 15 projects selected from around Australia, from more than 150 applications, the committee chose three from the City of Sydney demonstrated our commitment to excellent design.
“We are passionate about creating beautifully designed public spaces and facilities that encourage our communities to get out and explore and really restore their connections with the natural environment,” the Lord Mayor said.
“I’m incredibly proud of each of these projects – Prince Alfred Park and Pool, the Glebe Foreshore walk, and the wonderful Waterloo home of WEAVE – each of them resulted from close consultation with local communities and long term collaboration between our brilliant City staff and excellent architecture, landscape design and construction teams. This result is a real testament to their dedication.”
Presented by the Australian Institute of Architects and curated by architects Baracco+Wright and artist Linda Tegg, the theme for the Australian Pavilion is ‘repair’, with Australian architecture involved in the rehabilitation of the local natural environment.
The exhibition also features 10,000 endangered plants creating a striking multi-sensory living installation entitled ‘Grasslands Repair’ and ‘Skylight’ – 100 LED lights simulating the sun’s energy to keep the vegetation alive. Large-scale projections above the plants highlight Australian architectural works that repair the ecosystems they occupy and engage with their urban, social, and cultural environments.
The City’s projects will feature in a purpose-made video installation called ‘Ground’ in the gallery space.
“These projects demonstrate diverse iterations of repair – an architectural approach required in one of the most diverse and ecologically sensitive landscapes in the world,” said Louise Wright from the Victoria-based architects Baracco+Wright.
“The City has done an incredible job with these projects that show careful consideration for the use of the land.
“These are great works to shine an international spotlight on architecture’s role in acts of repair.”
The City is also providing more than $20,000 in cash support, through its knowledge exchange sponsorship program, to the Institute of Architects for the 2018 and 2020 Venice Architecture Biennales.
“Australia is often cited among the top eight countries for progressive architecture and our presence at the Venice Architectural Biennales in 2018 and 2020 is important in maintaining this reputation,” the Lord Mayor said.
Jill Garner, Chair of the Australian Institute of Architects Venice Biennale Committee, said: “These Sydney projects will make a valuable contribution to bring a distinctively Australian creative vision to life.
“The curators – Louise, Mauro and Linda – have done a remarkable job in creating Repair and selecting a broad showcase of work that demonstrates Australia’s approach to architectural thinking that we believe will become a critical strategy of the practice worldwide.”
The 16th International Architecture Biennale in Venice will run from 26 May to 25 November 2018. For more information about the event visit Venice Biennale.