de Paor Architects in main show at Venice Architecture Biennale
dePaor architects have become the first Irish office to be asked to create an installation for the main exhibition at the 12th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia – which runs from August 29 to November 21 2010 in Venice, Italy.
dePaor architects have been invited by director Kazuyo Sejima, of Japanese architect practice SANAA, to explore her theme “People meet in Architecture”. Sejima has selected just 43 practices from around the world “to show their understanding of the theme and their personal response to it. The idea is to help people relate to architecture, help architecture relate to people and help people relate to themselves” explains Ms Sejima. Among those selected are architects, artists, filmmakers and engineers, such as Wim Wenders, Fiona Tan and Rem Koolhaas’ OMA.
dePaor architects, with support from Culture Ireland, will build a folly of pleated linen and lavendered softwood, called “4am”, in the Palazzo delle Esposizioni in the Giardini of Venice. The project explores liminal domestic space.
Eugene Downes, CEO of Culture Ireland, commented: “The Venice Architecture Biennale is the most significant showcase for architecture in the world. We are especially pleased that dePaor, who are co-curators of the 2010 Irish National Pavilion at Venice, have been given this unique and valuable opportunity to put Irish architecture at the centre of international design practice.”