Entries open for Venice Architecture Biennale

For all innovative architects drafting blueprints outside the square – the 13th Venice Architecture Biennale is calling.

If you’re an Australian architect practicing a revolutionary, progressive form that’s helping redefine the role of architects, the Venice Architecture Biennale is asking you to reveal yourself to the world.

Last week in Sydney, which plays host to the Sydney Architecture Festival at the end of October, Australia’s participation in the 2012 Venice Architecture Biennale was officially announced. Creative Directors Anthony Burke and Gerard Reinmuth, working in close collaboration with TOKO Concept Design as the creative team, called on all architects or architectural practices adhering to this description to lodge expressions of interest (EoI) to participate in the Biennale.

Outlining their plans, the Creative Directors said: “As part of the Australian contribution to the 13th Venice Architecture Biennale, we’re seeking EoI’s from potential contributors to the exhibition, Formations; New Practices in Australian Architecture. We’re looking for practices redefining the boundaries of architectural practice, either through the ways in which they have established their practice, or the unusual domains in which they work.

“Our aim is to highlight the remarkable versatility and innovation of non-standard practice types and their design outputs - that are recasting the ways in which architects practice, and expanding the role of architects. These new practice formations will demonstrate to the world a particularly Australian mode of innovation and invention in the Australian Pavilion.”

Regarded as the world’s most important forum for architectural discussion and debate, the Australian Institute of Architects has committed to the Venice Architecture Biennale continuously from 2006 until at least 2016.

‘Formations; New Practices in Australian Architecture’

When outlining the 2012 ‘Formations’ exhibition, Burke and Reinmuth commented, “As the profession of architecture registers the pressure of new economic, social and cultural challenges, Australian practices and schools of architecture are responding via the evolution of new forms of practice. A common theme motivating many new forms of practice is the goal of finding a greater agency, or effectiveness for architecture, so that architects can use their unique spatial and organisational skills to improve the quality of our built environment.

“Our interest is to curate examples of architectural practices (professional and pre-professional) that respond to the questions raised by our proposal intelligently, spatially, critically, optimistically and generously, with design and research work of the highest international standard. We imagine scales and forms of work will conceptually vary from architecture and city making to the creation of small strategic projects, objects, installations and media.

“In all cases, our intention is to highlight new forms of architectural practice, its spatial consequence and its transformative potentials across Australian architectural design culture, and the built environment.”

For Expression of Interest Guidelines head to www.architecture.com.au/formations

For inspiration and a look at what the country’s best architects are already doing, check out the program for the Sydney Architecture Festival.