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A note from the curators of the Biennale Architettura 2018.
Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara curated the 16th International Architecture Exhibition, that ran from May 26th to November 25th 2018 in the Giardini and Arsenale venues, and in other locations in Venice. The Biennale Architettura 2018 was titled FREESPACE, a word which describes a generosity of spirit and a sense of humanity at the core of architecture's agenda.
With the theme of FREESPACE, the Biennale Architettura 2018 presented for public scrutiny examples, proposals, elements - built or unbuilt - of work that exemplifies essential qualities of architecture which include the modulation, richness and materiality of surface; the orchestration and sequencing of movement, revealing the embodied power and beauty of architecture.
Golden Lion for Best National Participation:
Switzerland
Golden Lion for the best participant in the 16th Exhibition FREESPACE to:
Eduardo Souto de Moura
Silver Lion for a promising young participant in the 16th Exhibition FREESPACE to:
Jan de Vylder, Inge Vinck, Jo Taillieu
Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement to:
Kenneth Frampton
71 architects from all over the world make responses to the Manifesto by Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara, in order to reveal the freespace ingredient embedded in their work.
63 Participating Countries in the Pavilions at the Giardini, at the Arsenale and in the city centre of Venice. 6 Countries participate for the first time: Antigua & Barbuda, Saudi Arabia, Guatemala, Lebanon, Pakistan, and Holy See.
Exhibitions and initiatives enriching the diversity of voices that characterizes the International Art Exhibition.