Review of the Architecture Biennale 2016: Baltic States

Title:

The Baltic Pavilion

Curators:

Karlis Berzinš, Jurga Daubaraite, Petras Išora, Ona Lozuraityte, Niklavs Paegle, Dagnija Smilga, Johan Tali, Laila Zarina, Jonas Žukauskas

Location:

Palasport, Calle S. Biagio, Castello 2132

It is the first time the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) organize a common exhibition at the Architecture Biennale. As a result of 3 independent national competitions, the team consists of a large group of 9 curators. The exhibition also includes works from different professions, such as architects, planners, photographers, geographers, geologists, but also economists, cultural theorists, scientists or philosophers.

The Baltic Pavilion intends to explore the built environment of the Baltic States as a shared space of ideas. Recent geopolitical developments have created a sense of urgency in the initiation of new spatial practices that unite the region and underpin the foundations of the European Union. The team will explore the impact of redeveloping the region’s Soviet-era infrastructure. The challenge is how to address this issue from a regional ‘shared’ point of view, while maintaining their national identity.

The team has chosen a very original pavilion, i.e. the Palasport, a sports centre between the two main sites of the Biennale. The concrete building is the perfect setting for an exhibition related to ex-Soviet architecture.

More than 100 works from various locations in the Baltics will be on display. They include significant interregional infrastructural links such as the Rail Baltic project or the energy networks connected to the housing districts. The exhibition features maps, photography, video works, physical models, diagrams, collages, sketches, material samples and other media.

Future track of Rail Baltic (© David Grandorge)

The exhibition will be accompanied by a series of related events and by the book ‘The Baltic Atlas’. More information can be found on the website of The Baltic Pavilion.

Review by The Venice Insider

The pavilion from the Baltic States is in the sports centre of Castello, a huge concrete building hidden between typical Venetian houses. I wanted to visit it beforehand, but never managed to get in, so I was very happy when I heard that it would be used for the Biennale. Entering a sports centre gives you a view of a totally different Venice, i.e. one where people live and children do sports. The exhibition uses the whole area and displays the Baltic exhibits on the stairs of the grandstand and on the floor. It will be rearranged depending on the planned activities, such as the girls’ gymnastics competition while we were there. It will therefore be one of the few pavilions where visitors get a different perspective depending on when they visit. I only regret the gymnasts weren’t there at that time. The Baltic States is one of the 12 exhibitions which you should really visit at this Biennale.

Katia – The Venice Insider

The Baltic pavilion is the Palasport in Castello

The exhibits are displayed on the grandstand of the sports centre

The pavilion offers a unique opportunity to combine an architectural visit with gymnastics

Click here to return to the overview of the other pavilions at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2016 or read my post What to expect from the 2016 Architecture Biennale.

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