Estonian Centre of Architecture is looking for a project to represent Estonia at the next international architecture biennial in Venice. The first stage of the two-stage public international curator competition will close on 31 August 2015, with three proposals moving onto the second stage. The winner of the competition will be announced on 10 November 2015.

2016 will be the eighth time Estonia will be taking part of the La Biennale di Venezia Architecture Exhibition. Earlier projects have included a look into of the uses of mobile positioning technology in urban planning, a reflection on the lifecycle of buildings based on the example of an Estonian Soviet Modernist landmark, but also an overview of Estonian outhouse architecture, or Estonian private homes architecture. One of the internationally best-known Estonian projects in Venice was Gas Pipe by Maarja Kask and Ralf Lõoke from Salto Architects, sculptor Neeme Külm and architecture historian Ingrid Ruudi, who in 2008 created life-size gaspipe-shaped public space installation in the Giardini park, extending from the Russian to German pavilion. In 2014, Estonia was represented by a project titled Interspace, touching upon the issues tied to public space as the meeting place of official ideology and personal interpretations (curators Johanna Jõekalda, Johan Tali, Siim Tuksam).

The competition is open for proposals by art theorists, art historians, architects, designers, interior designers, historians and curators of other professions related to the field of architecture.

At the time of the announcement of the present competition, the general theme of the 15th La Biennale di Venezia Architecture Exhibition is yet to be revealed. Nevertheless, the proposals for the Estonian exposition should reflect both current global issues and important aspects of the ideas and practice of contemporary Estonian architecture.

International teams entering the competition are expected to include persons competent in and familiar with Estonian architecture. Entries can be either in Estonian or English.

Jury member, architect and adviser on architecture and design at the Estonian Ministry of Culture, Veronika Valk expects successful proposals to address issues in or stemming from Estonian architecture which could be relevant, thought-provoking and intriguing on an international scale. "What would inspire the interest of the architecture audience that gathers in Venice this time? Probably projects that have the ability to both spot global patterns and visualise them through the lens of the Estonian context, the Estonian exposition. In other words, a novel focus of the topic and a high level of research make a strong proposal."

The competition and the Estonian exhibition at the 15th Biennale di Venezia Architecture Exhibition are organised by the Estonian Centre of Architecture in co-operation with the Union of Estonian Architects and with support from Estonian Ministry of Culture and and Estonian Cultural Endowment.

Terms and Conditions of the competition can be found here.

Estonian Centre of Architecture (ECA) is a non-profit organisation focussing on developing architectural culture in Estonia and promoting contemporary Estonian architecture abroad. In addition to being in charge of the Estonian exhibition in Venice, the Centre also organises Tallinn Architecture Biennial TAB, other architecture events in Tallinn and networking events abroad.

Photo: Estonian exposition "Interspace" at the last biennial; Johanna Jõekalda, Johan Tali and Siim Tuksam.

More info:
Anu Lill
Producer
Phone: +3725204584
E-mail: anu@arhitektuurikeskus.ee