The Australian Institute of Architects has revealed the shortlisted proposals for Australia’s exhibition at the 2023 Venice Architecture Biennale.
Themed “Laboratory of the Future,” the Biennale, curated by Lesley Lokko, challenges participating countries to focus on the dual imperatives of decolonization and decarbonization.
From 17 expressions of interest, the Institute’s Venice Biennale committee has chosen three that will progress to the next stage of the selection process:
Extreme Ex – Kathi Holt, Tim Hill, James Murray, Lindy Johnson, Jay Younger, Peter Jacobsen and Leah Lang
This scheme proposes to highlight the innovative work of architects, scientists and design practitioners in response to Australia’s “extreme” conditions.
“Extreme Ex will showcase Australian design responses to extreme events, land practices, socio-environmental challenges from both contemporary practice and an Indigenous perspective simultaneously,” the creative team said.
Palimpsest – Jessica Spresser, Peter Besley, Georgia Birks and Rory Gardiner
Palimpsest explores the idea that the “laboratory of the future is to build on/with/in what is already there.”
“Australian cities urgently need a compelling language of reuse,” the creative team said. “The idea of palimpsest inherently refutes the blank page, Tabula Rasa, Terra Nullis. It recognizes the pre-existence and equal status of others. It reminds current authors: ‘you too will one day be over-written’. As a mode of practice it represents a shift: build now understanding others will build over, in, with and around you.”
Unsettling Queenstown – Anthony Coupe, Julian Worrall, Ali Gumillya Baker, Emily Paech and Sarah Rhodes
This exhibition proposal explores ideas of decolonization and decarbonization, coupled with regeneration and revitalization.
Taking the example of Queenstown in Tasmania, emblematic of a settler town “built on resource extraction and labour exploitation” with similar examples found all over the world, the exhibition ponders the post-colonial future of these towns.
The creative team explained, “How these possible futures may be shaped in decolonizing ways mobilising collective memory, environmental sustainability and historical justice is the crux of the exhibition.”
The three shortlisted teams will now progress to the interview stage. The winner will be announced in October.
Source: Architecture - architectureau
