Scottish Government
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Scottish architecture firms on the world stage
Scotland’s participation at the prestigious Venice architecture Biennale this week is being supported by a partnership of the Scottish Government, Creative Scotland and the British Council (Scotland).
The partners have developed a Scottish approach to 2012 Biennale that showcases projects exploring innovative ways of engaging with people and places, under the title of Critical Dialogues.
Scottish firms Do Architecture, GRAS design studio, Stone Opera and Pidgin Perfect are using alternative methods to engage with people who work, live and play in Venice. From encouraging local children to become builders for a day using giant cardboard building blocks, to a low flying helium balloon which will film Venice from up above, the methods are anything but traditional.
The focus is entirely on the community and places that are often overlooked and marginalised.
Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs Fiona Hyslop said:
“I am delighted that Scotland will be represented at the 2012 Venice Architecture Biennale. Scotland has a wealth of creative architectural talent and once again, the Scottish Government is a key partner in promoting this talent on an international stage.
“The Biennale offers the ideal platform to highlight the work of four practices and their creative approach to architecture. The architects will be engaging with people and places across Venice in surprising and inventive ways, demonstrating Scottish creativity on an international stage during 2012, our Year of Creative Scotland.”
Jonathan Charley of Strathclyde University, project director for Critical Dialogues, said:
“Critical Dialogues very much reflects a multi and inter-disciplinary tradition, and in this sense the four projects on show in the Biennale are very much new twists on old tales; a mesh of complementary narratives whose origins can be traced back through the 20th century. The project explores the social role of architecture, and the assertion that the architect should first and foremost be a social agent, whose job it is to facilitate and improve the quality of the built environment.”
Andrew Dixon of Creative Scotland said:
“Creative Scotland is delighted to be a partner in Scotland and Venice 2012 – the Architecture Biennale. Our commitment to talent development has enabled these young practices to showcase their work at one of the world’s most prestigious architecture festivals. The project offers a significant international platform for the exchange of knowledge and ideas and we expect the experience will be extremely rewarding. We look forward to seeing and hearing more from the architects when the project is presented by the Lighthouse in Glasgow in early 2013."
Lloyd Anderson from The British Council in Scotland said:
“British Council Scotland is proud to be supporting four young architectural practices from Glasgow attend the 13th Venice Architectural Biennale. They represent a fresh, inspiring, collective voice; heralding a new wave in Scottish architecture. The Venice Biennale is a shop window on the world, and we hope the practices will seize the opportunity to make international connections for Scotland.”
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