Zero-waste German Pavilion opens at Venice Architecture Biennale

 

BERLIN – This year’s German Pavilion at the renowned Venice Architecture Biennale is taking a stand against waste management and sustainability.

This year’s German Pavilion at the renowned Venice Architecture Biennale is taking a stand against waste management and sustainability.

The contribution, entitled “Open for Maintenance,” was presented and opened by its eight-member curatorial team on Friday. It pushes the boundaries of conventional exhibitions by calling for a new, sustainable approach to building, said the team.

“You can’t go on like this in the future,” said Christian Hiller, one of the curators, pointing to a “waste of resources” in the building and architecture sector.

The demand for housing is on the rise, said German Minister for Urban Development and Building, Klara Geywitz at the opening. At the same time, the harmful environmental impact of construction is unsustainable in the long-run, especially the high level of emissions produced by cement.

The team used material from 40 old Biennale pavilions to create infrastructure that visitors and Venetian initiatives can use, such as an accessible ramp, meeting room and kitchenette.
The design harks back to the 1980’s squatter scene in Berlin, aiming to be more interactive than speculative.

The curators also wanted to tackle the Biennale’s “waste problem” in a “constructive and optimistic way.” Every year, large quantities of exhibition material are largely disposed of afterwards.

“Why should we ship new material to the Giardini at great expense when everything is actually already available on site?” the curators asked themselves.

The 18th Architecture Biennale begins on Saturday, with 89 participants from different countries showcasing their ideas on the theme of: “The Laboratory of the Future.”