RMIT staff exhibit at Venice Biennale

05/30/14

Venice

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RMIT Architecture and Urban Design staff and alumni have dominated the Augmented Australia exhibition selection for the 2014 Venice Architecture Biennale.
The Venice Biennale is considered the most significant presentation of architecture to an international audience. Directed by Rem Koolhaas, one of the world’s leading architects, it will be held from 7 June to 23 November in Venice. The exbhibition is curated by Rene Van Meeuwen, Craig McCormack, Matt Delroy-Carr, Sophie Giles, Simon Anderson (all of UWA) and Philip Goad (University of Melbourne).
Six out of the eleven architectural practices selected are directed by staff, alumni or current PhD researchers from RMIT. The practices include ARM Architecture, Tessellate A+D, Iredale Pedersen Hook Architects, m3architecture, Lyons and Minifie van Schaik Architects. Associate Professor Vivian Mitsogianni, Deputy Dean and Head of Architecture in RMIT’s School of Architecture of Design, said: “We are extremely proud that the RMIT community of practitioners feature so prominently in this Biennale. RMIT Architecture distinguishes itself through ideas-led venturous design experimentation and exploration.
The RMIT practitioners selected all consider the possibilities for architecture and our cities through the design of speculative and projective projects that seek to extend and challenge our understanding of what architecture is and could be.”
The contemporary unbuilt Augmented Australia exhibition will be brought to virtual life using three-dimensional augmented models, images, voice-overs and animations. It will also include ten historical unbuilt projects, to be unveiled at the Vernissage in 2014.
RMIT Architecture staff have also contributed to the exhibition by interviewing the architects of a number of the contemporary unbuilt Australian entry proposals. Videos of these interviewes will be presented during the Biennale alongside commentary published in the catalogue. Contributions include:
Professor Richard Blythe, Dean of the School of Architecture and Design, on the Minifie van Schaik entry, Caught Unawares.
Professor Leon van Schaik AO on the Jewel Cave Visitor Centre by Iredale Pedersen Hook Architecture.
Adjunct Professor Howard Raggatt on the Carlton & United Brewery Redevelopment by ARM.
Associate Professor Conrad Hamann on the Edmond and Corrigan with Clive Lucas and McConnel Smith and Johnson refurbishment of the State Library of Victoria and Museum of Victoria.
Professor Jane Burry on the Hybrid Cathedral by Tessellate A+D.