Research Methodologies and Events, Biennale Architettura di Venezia 2018

RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES AND EVENT Lucie Linderova MA A+U 2017/2018

FIGURE 0.1 ‘Action field symposium’ Venice Biennale, photography Angus Lee

CONTENT

1.

INTRODUCTION

2.

BIENNALE ARCHITTETURA 2018: FREESPACE

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ACTION FIELD: CAN SPACE TRULY BE FREE?

4.

SPATIALLY FREE

5.

LEGALLY FREE

6.

PAST FREE

7. CONCLUSION

This is reflection to Research Methods course of MA Architecture and Urbanism taught at Manchester School of Architecture and response to the 16th Venice Architecture Exhibition Biennale Archittetura 2018 titled FREESPACE, where we have organised the symposium with topic of Action field: Can space truly be free?

“Research is the process by which you understand the world in a verifiable and consistent manner” Dr. Ray Lucas And according to the discipline the suitable research methods are to be used. The ways we are asking, defining and framing questions are important. The methods are there to facilitate the journey of understanding for us.

When it comes to Architecture of “fun” like fairs, expos, symposiums or biennale, the contribution of knowledge lies on finding the cross-disciplinary relations. For architectural progress we must conduct the research into its theory, context and precedent. It means to take into consideration other factors then just the visible architecture of the exhibition such as the rules and concepts behind the architecture, the experience of an event and social and culture role of the event. 1 In this case being part of the symposium opened for me better understanding of the whole Venice Biennale exhibition than just visiting the pavilions. It gave me some good research questions and interest in the topic and I have started to look deeper at presented pavilions than just at the visible part.

INTRODUCTION

Lucas R. (2017, autumn term) Research Methods course, MSA MA Architecture and Urbanism 2 Lucas R. (2016) Research Methods for architecture Laurance King.

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FIGURE 1.1 ‘Theory led research’ Research methods for architecture2

BIENNALE ARCHITTETURA 2018: FREESPACE

The theme of Biennale Archittetura this year is FREESPACE. The Biennale takes place in Venice along the Giardini and the Arsenale venues where national pavilions are presenting their installations celebrating the essential qualities of architecture of addressing strangers in spatial nature of the Freespace. The Freespace describes the generosity of spirit and humanity in architecture, its ability to provide free and additional spatial benefits and capacity to find unexpected generosity in each project whether it is within restricted condition of building environment, lack of natural resources or the programme restriction. Freespace encourages going beyond visual, emphasizing role of architecture of daily life to find new way of thinking and new innovative solutions. The Biennale Archittetura is celebrating and reminding us in each two-year edition the beautiful role of architecture which “is to give shelter to our bodies and to lift our spirits�3

Venezia, L. (2018). Biennale Architettura 2018 | Biennale Architettura 2018 general outline. [online] La Biennale di Venezia. Available at: http://www.labiennale.org/en/news/ biennale-architettura-2018-general-outline [Accessed 24 Jun. 2018].

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FIGURE 3.1 ‘Action field symposium’ Venice Biennale, photography Angus Lee

ACTION FIELD: CAN SPACE TRULY BE FREE?

The Venice Biennale also includes Collateral events within its programme presented by international institutions. We were part of one of those events with the symposium titled Action field: Can space truly be free? organised by our class from Manchester School of Architecture in collaboration with two guests; Babau Bureau architects and Paolo Marcoaldi, held place in the Central Pavilion of the Giardini venue on 27th May 2018.

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Paolo Marcoaldi

is a cofounder of Studio.dismisura architectural practice based in Rome and teacher at Sapienza University of Rome where he started his research about architecture public stairs, modern Rome and methodological issues in architectural design and closer look to

URBAN STAIRS Paolo was inspired by Rome which has one of the most recognised public stairs. And he started trying to define how important are stairs in the urban public space. It is not just about connecting two places with different altitudes. It represents significant passage where each step has different position in the space.

It expresses the movement and movement can be consider as freedom. Freespace is to allow space to adapt to unexpected uses to see every possible variation and new form of architectural language. In this case urban stairs can be the true space, the space we can redefine and give it new function and perception.

A lot of other exhibitions at Venice Biennale have chosen stairs in some form of shape of the freespace.

It is about the journey. The steps can be both obstacles and resting places. Then the stairs are no longer just connection between two places of interest but becoming the public place by itself. Gaining the additional value creating from space the place.

FIGURE 3.2 ‘Venice biennale exhibitions’ Venice Biennale, instagram labiennale Research Methodologies and Events Lucie Linderova

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Babau Bureau

is Venice based practice specialized in architecture and landscape. This professional practice works simultaneously with academic research about private and public space interactions. Their projects are oriented to user needs trying to respect the site-specific architecture in the urban complex. Understanding the possibility and capacity of space is fundamental to introduce different shared activities which could serve for all the users of the place. And the place cannot by designed just by architect but by people living there. So architects need to find the understanding of using the specific place first without the rules in order the space to be free.

Babau Architects are using just little architectural interventions to conquer the space in the meaning that people can understand that there are places within the city free for possibility. So freespace for them means when the design allows people to decide the function of the space, so they are free to do what they want.

In theory the completely free space would be with no function, no restriction, no boundaries, not defined by anything, as an empty space. So when the space is designed it loses its freedom. Is it true then that:

Design kills freedom!4 Is it even possible to design truly free space? What does it mean freespace? Freespace is too subjective term and everyone can understand it differently. If freespace is an empty space then at least for me empty space is abandoned space. And I do not want to engage and spend my time in abandoned places. People need function and definition to follow. There can be multifunctional places which were designed in consideration for future changeable and adaptable use but what is no function space?

For me free space is place where I feel free. Where I feel like I have infinitely possibilities, and nothing limits my actions, which does not mean there are no restrictions. As an example, free place for me is beach where you are on the edge with seemingly endless ocean, and the scale of it and the fact that you cannot see its end or boundary makes me wonder. Freespace is pleasant place, calm but inspiring where you want to stop and breathe and stay for a while. So how to design such a place as an architect?

FIGURE 3.3 ‘Investigation of new buildings to Piazzale Roma based on social networks’ Babau Bureau5 La Biennale di Venezia (2018), Collateral event: Action field: Can space truly be free? MSA in collaboration with Babau Bureau and Paolo Marcoaldi.

5 Babaubureau.tumblr.com. (2018). Babau Bureau Architects. [online] Available at: http://babaubureau.tumblr. com/ [Accessed 24 Jun. 2018].

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FREESPACE

FREE • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Research Methodologies and Events Lucie Linderova

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to come to stay to go to do what you want to wonder to think to imagine to move-accessibility by connection of form of boundaries of use of function of restrictions for everyone for opportunities

BIENNALE PAVILIONS

In between the exhibited pavilions there were multiple different approaches to form the freespace but some of them were repeating. It seems the main approaches could be summarized in 3 main categories: 1) 2) 3)

Spatially free Legally free Past free

FIGURE 3.4 ‘Venice Biennale pavilions’ Photography Lucie Linderova and Busra Berber 11

Research Methodologies and Events Lucie Linderova

SPATIALLY FREE

Turkish Pavilion (2018) La Biennale di Venezia 16th International Architecture Exhibition. Venice The Arsenale 6

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FIGURE 4.1 ‘Turkish and Argentine pavilion’ Venice Biennale, Photography Lucie Linderova

The first group is the one that relates to actual space. It presents the space where people can feel free.

It is the more subjective group as each individual imagines freedom differently.

I liked especially the Turkish and Argentina exhibition. Maybe because I am living in busy city, I tend to look for escape from the rush and that is why the free space for me is connected with nature, peace and quiet.

In my experience the Turkish pavilion was really pleasant place to stay and relax. It was supposed to form the ground for cultural exchange, collaborative dialogue and critic across borders. To support the open debates the space provides pleasant friendly environment and more than exhibition space serves as meeting place. Its transformable interactive design welcomes inclusivity and opens for international collaboration. Discovering the new places hidden behind translucent fabric the new networks and new ways of communications are to be found too.6

FIGURE 5.1 ‘US pavilion leaflet’ Venice Biennale, Photography Lucie Linderova

LEGALLY FREE

CITIZENSHIP Another big section in creating Freespace was about dimensions of citizenship. Can space be free when it is restricted by law and regulations? And how about the human space, the space for a citizen?

The citizenship is binding us together, legally, culturally and economically but it also excluding those who were not accepted within the system. Can spatial understanding of citizenship free people from exclusion and antiquated definitions, forms or bureaucracies?

The US pavilion is demonstrating within its exhibition the architectural role in recognising to be a citizen today. After US expansion, the Mexican border dealt with nuanced discourse on national citizenship.

The rights of citizenships are linked to spatial limitation so how can architecture respond to the attachments of citizenship? The pavilion explores spatial scales from Citizen through Nation to Globe, Network, Cosmos trying to investigate the spaces of citizenship and presents the citizenship as critical global topic. Installation is promoting new forms of sharing platforms and technologies base on interconnection and cross-national alliances supressing the inequality and violence against human rights.7

US Pavilion (2018) Dimensions of citizenship. La Biennale di Venezia 16th International Architecture Exhibition. Venice The Giardini 7

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PAST FREE

Danish Pavilion (2018) Possible spaces. La Biennale di Venezia 16th International Architecture Exhibition. Venice The Giardini 8

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TECHNOLOGY

FIGURE 4.1 ‘Danish pavilion’ Venice Biennale, Photography Lucie Linderova

Technology influence modern world on everyday basis. It changes the way of communication, movement and speeds everything up. In construction sector past hundred years we have built more than all history combined. The construction takes up to 40% of global resource consumption and it is not slowing down.

New neighbourhood emerges too rapidly but what will happen when the rapid changes take away the local identity. People need the sense of identity to feel like home and architects are to be integrating that need into our cities and architecture. Can you imagine yourself in brand new neighbourhood without traces of past?

Danish pavilion investigates new architectural solution of possible spaces based on accessibility and sustainability of the places more than the amount of erected buildings. We must learn how to reuse the existing building environment. The sustainable living environment is about interconnection. And mobility is the key factor. By solving the transport challenges of modern society, we can change the world again.

A hyperloop is sealed low-pressure tube with magnetic levitated capsule inside which can move with minimal friction at high speed. It is innovative technical solution which can introduce whole new mode of travel. With almost supersonic speed the Hyperloop can offer greater distance from the city center closer to surrounding landscape qualities. Its design is based on commuting study of existing transportation and is to minimise the interruptions and waiting time and promote collective commuting with individual freedom.8

CONCLUSION

In my opinion free space is brilliant topic especially for architects. It is compelling to leave the architectural daily routine beyond and think what are the core architectural values? If space is the material for architects and design the tool and we are creating places by shaping the space, the space is losing its freedom by our intervention. So where is the boundary between doing it right or just killing the freedom?

Is the answer in finding the generosity of architecture? The generosity of opportunities and possibilities, which architecture has, to encourage new ways of thinking and seeing the place, the city, the world. Is the freedom in opening space for opportunity for its inhabitants to help them be free from past, cultural differences, different nationalities and other separations? Freespace supports the diversity in architecture based on people. And people should be included in designing that architecture to truly reveal its embodied power and enduring contribution to humanity.

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LITERATURE

• Lucas R. (2017, autumn term) Research Methods course, MSA MA Architecture and Urbanism • Lucas R. (2016) Research Methods for architecture Laurance King.

• La Biennale di Venezia (2018) Visit of the Giardini and the Arsenale venues.

• La Biennale di Venezia. (2018). Biennale Architettura 2018 | Architettura. [online] Available at: http://www.labiennale.org/en/architecture/2018 [Accessed 24 Jun. 2018].

• La Biennale di Venezia (2018), Collateral event: Action field: Can space truly be free? MSA in collaboration with Babau Bureau and Paolo Marcoaldi.

• La Biennale di Venezia. (2018). instagram labiennale • Babaubureau.tumblr.com. (2018). Babau Bureau Architects. [online] Available at: http://babaubureau.tumblr.com/ [Accessed 24 Jun. 2018].

• studio.dismisura. (2018). Home - studio.dismisura. [online] Available at: http://www.studiodismisura.com/ [Accessed 24 Jun. 2018].

• Marcoaldi, P. (2015). 7 tipi di scale. 1st ed. Ariccia (RM): Aracne Editrice, p.308. ISBN 9788854881211 • Belgian Pavilion (2018) Eurotopie. La Biennale di Venezia 16th International Architecture Exhibition. Venice The Giardini • Turkish Pavilion (2018) La Biennale di Venezia 16th International Architecture Exhibition. Venice The Arsenale • US Pavilion (2018) Dimensions of citizenship. La Biennale di Venezia 16th International Architecture Exhibition. Venice The Giardini • Danish Pavilion (2018) Possible spaces. La Biennale di Venezia 16th International Architecture Exhibition. Venice The Giardini