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Architect Gianni Talamini (in blue) with curator Juulia Kauste and exhibition designer Esa Vesmanen stand in front of the restored pavilion. As high-modern structures begin to age, architects around the world are now confronted with how to restore them. Fitting with the theme of this Biennale, preservation challenges encompass another “common ground” in the built environment. This project provides a model for how to retain the spirit of original structures while restoring their performance as a building. Photo by Patricia Parinejad.
Architect Gianni Talamini (in blue) with curator Juulia Kauste and exhibition designer Esa Vesmanen stand in front of the restored pavilion. As high-modern structures begin to age, architects around the world are now confronted with how to restore them. Fitting with the theme of this Biennale, preservation challenges encompass another “common ground” in the built environment. This project provides a model for how to retain the spirit of original structures while restoring their performance as a building. Photo by Patricia Parinejad.
A view of the finished ceiling. Photo by Gianni Talamini.
A view of the finished ceiling. Photo by Gianni Talamini.
The finished effect is like being inside of an instrument, where light is allowed to play off of the varying ages of wood. The pavilion has an entirely new life, yet remains honest to Aalto’s original construction. Photo by Patricia Parinejad.
The finished effect is like being inside of an instrument, where light is allowed to play off of the varying ages of wood. The pavilion has an entirely new life, yet remains honest to Aalto’s original construction. Photo by Patricia Parinejad.
All of the panels that make up the enclosure were removed and painstakingly repaired. At the conclusion of the restoration project, the panels were made from a combination of the original wood from 1956 and new wood from 2012. Together, the materials create a beautiful new texture that reveals the processes of both the original building and its reinvented self. Photo by Gianni Talamini.
All of the panels that make up the enclosure were removed and painstakingly repaired. At the conclusion of the restoration project, the panels were made from a combination of the original wood from 1956 and new wood from 2012. Together, the materials create a beautiful new texture that reveals the processes of both the original building and its reinvented self. Photo by Gianni Talamini.
This view of ceiling reveals the varying wood textures. Photo by Gianni Talamini.
This view of ceiling reveals the varying wood textures. Photo by Gianni Talamini.
The ten-week-long renovation wrapped up just before the Biennale’s opening on August 29. Aalto’s hand is still very much present in the restored building. Photo by Patricia Parinejad.
The ten-week-long renovation wrapped up just before the Biennale’s opening on August 29. Aalto’s hand is still very much present in the restored building. Photo by Patricia Parinejad.
The structure was stripped down to the original wood surface, including the diagonal paneling that has previously always been covered with white fabric, revealing a trace of the building’s structural integrity and construction process. Photo by Gianni Talamini.
The structure was stripped down to the original wood surface, including the diagonal paneling that has previously always been covered with white fabric, revealing a trace of the building’s structural integrity and construction process. Photo by Gianni Talamini.
Here's the Giardini tree that fell on top of the pavilion in 2011. Photo by Ross Hamilton.
Here's the Giardini tree that fell on top of the pavilion in 2011. Photo by Ross Hamilton.
The exterior wall panels were carefully separated from the primary structure. Photo by Gianni Talamini.
The exterior wall panels were carefully separated from the primary structure. Photo by Gianni Talamini.
Talamini paid attention to the subtlest details. The panels were sanded by hand, the roof structure was stripped of its paint, and the plywood roof panels were sandblasted, leaving the entire interior stripped bare of finish, revealing the natural raw wood. Photo by Gianni Talamini.
Talamini paid attention to the subtlest details. The panels were sanded by hand, the roof structure was stripped of its paint, and the plywood roof panels were sandblasted, leaving the entire interior stripped bare of finish, revealing the natural raw wood. Photo by Gianni Talamini.
The floor of the building was polished to reveal the natural aggregate of the concrete. To indicate the line where fabric previously covered the natural wood paneling, Talamini used a light whitewash to ever so slightly change the color of the wood. Photo by Gianni Talamini.
The floor of the building was polished to reveal the natural aggregate of the concrete. To indicate the line where fabric previously covered the natural wood paneling, Talamini used a light whitewash to ever so slightly change the color of the wood. Photo by Gianni Talamini.
Originally prefabricated in Finland and shipped for assembly to the Giardini—the gardens where the Biennale takes place—the lightweight wood-frame-and-panel structure was a built to capture light from above and bounce it indirectly onto the interior walls. Aalto designed the structure to be dismantled, stored, and reassembled as needed between exhibitions, or on other sites. According to the story, several of the parts were missing upon arrival and therefore the panels were fixed in place during its initial construction. As Aalto’s only building in Italy, this ephemeral structure became permanent and was regarded as a national treasure.
Originally prefabricated in Finland and shipped for assembly to the Giardini—the gardens where the Biennale takes place—the lightweight wood-frame-and-panel structure was a built to capture light from above and bounce it indirectly onto the interior walls. Aalto designed the structure to be dismantled, stored, and reassembled as needed between exhibitions, or on other sites. According to the story, several of the parts were missing upon arrival and therefore the panels were fixed in place during its initial construction. As Aalto’s only building in Italy, this ephemeral structure became permanent and was regarded as a national treasure.
Here's the interior of Finnish pavilion featuring an exhibition of young finish architects curated by Juulia Kauste.
Here's the interior of Finnish pavilion featuring an exhibition of young finish architects curated by Juulia Kauste.
Projects in the German pavilion show large-scale photos of models and buildings depicting how the country's architects are reworking the existing fabric of the city. The exhibition reuses the temporary sidewalks that are used when Venice floods.
Projects in the German pavilion show large-scale photos of models and buildings depicting how the country's architects are reworking the existing fabric of the city. The exhibition reuses the temporary sidewalks that are used when Venice floods.
The installation in the Brazil pavilion by Marcio Kogan is a minimal long black monolith with peepholes and speakers.
The installation in the Brazil pavilion by Marcio Kogan is a minimal long black monolith with peepholes and speakers.
Here's what it was like to look through the peephole to watch the short film depicting domestic scenes.
Here's what it was like to look through the peephole to watch the short film depicting domestic scenes.
The bark of the tree next to the shifting shadows and light on Siza’s beautiful mauve stucco offers a refreshing experience after the information dense exhibition.
The bark of the tree next to the shifting shadows and light on Siza’s beautiful mauve stucco offers a refreshing experience after the information dense exhibition.
i-city, curated by architect Sergei Tchoban, is a temple to the QR code. Its massive hi-tech display allows visitors to interactively explore a future city proposed for Russia.
i-city, curated by architect Sergei Tchoban, is a temple to the QR code. Its massive hi-tech display allows visitors to interactively explore a future city proposed for Russia.
A hanging garden installation by Spanish architects Jose Selgas and Lucia Cano.
A hanging garden installation by Spanish architects Jose Selgas and Lucia Cano.
In the Inside Outside–curated exhibition for the Netherlands, designer Petra Blaisse choreographed curtains to move about the space, continuously creating new arrangements and new social experiences.
In the Inside Outside–curated exhibition for the Netherlands, designer Petra Blaisse choreographed curtains to move about the space, continuously creating new arrangements and new social experiences.
The installation “Gran Horizonte” in the Arsenale by Urban Think Tank architects Alfredo Brillembourg and Hubert Klumpner, curator Justin McGuirk, and photographer Iwan Baan created a gallery and restaurant which became a social mixing space and exhibition framework for discussing their research on the Torre David project, a development that has been adaptively reused independent of any architect by 750 families in Caracas, Venezuela. This project won the Golden Lion award for Best Project.
The installation “Gran Horizonte” in the Arsenale by Urban Think Tank architects Alfredo Brillembourg and Hubert Klumpner, curator Justin McGuirk, and photographer Iwan Baan created a gallery and restaurant which became a social mixing space and exhibition framework for discussing their research on the Torre David project, a development that has been adaptively reused independent of any architect by 750 families in Caracas, Venezuela. This project won the Golden Lion award for Best Project.
An exhibition in the main Biennale pavilion on the Milan school simply documents facades.
An exhibition in the main Biennale pavilion on the Milan school simply documents facades.
Here's a shot of the beautiful newly exposed wood structural paneling in the Finnish pavilion.
Here's a shot of the beautiful newly exposed wood structural paneling in the Finnish pavilion.
Arum Installation in the Arsenale by Zaha Hadid Architects.
Arum Installation in the Arsenale by Zaha Hadid Architects.
In the Hungarian pavilion, the Space Maker exhibition explored the potential of the architectural model. A veritable forest of miniature buildings, the exhibition included 500 white models created by architecture students from 206 countries.
In the Hungarian pavilion, the Space Maker exhibition explored the potential of the architectural model. A veritable forest of miniature buildings, the exhibition included 500 white models created by architecture students from 206 countries.
These are the Giardini Bird Houses by Elding Oscarson from Sweden. The bird houses attached to Sverre Fehn’s beams in the open-air pavilion gives a home to birds that might otherwise get trapped inside. The variety of shapes will test out which form is more suited to the local birds.
These are the Giardini Bird Houses by Elding Oscarson from Sweden. The bird houses attached to Sverre Fehn’s beams in the open-air pavilion gives a home to birds that might otherwise get trapped inside. The variety of shapes will test out which form is more suited to the local birds.
Grafton Architects (Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara), won a Silver Lion award for Promising Practice. The Ireland firm explored the work of Paolo Mendes da Rocha in the context of their design for a new university in Lima, Peru.
Grafton Architects (Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara), won a Silver Lion award for Promising Practice. The Ireland firm explored the work of Paolo Mendes da Rocha in the context of their design for a new university in Lima, Peru.
The Japanese pavilion curated by Toyo Ito launches a program to provide a “Home for All” to people who lost their homes in the March 2011 tsunami. The exhibition presents the process models by three young Japanese architects, Kumiko Inui, Sou Fujimoto, and Akihisa Hirata. The gallery was transformed by large-scale photos of the site and cedar trunks, which were left exposed following the tsunami. The trees are proposed to become a building material for new homes. Japan won the Golden Lion for Best National Participation.
The Japanese pavilion curated by Toyo Ito launches a program to provide a “Home for All” to people who lost their homes in the March 2011 tsunami. The exhibition presents the process models by three young Japanese architects, Kumiko Inui, Sou Fujimoto, and Akihisa Hirata. The gallery was transformed by large-scale photos of the site and cedar trunks, which were left exposed following the tsunami. The trees are proposed to become a building material for new homes. Japan won the Golden Lion for Best National Participation.
Here's a photo by Iwan Baan exhibited in the installation.
Here's a photo by Iwan Baan exhibited in the installation.
Spontaneous Interventions: Design Actions for the Common Good in the U.S. pavilion was curated by Cathy Lang Ho.
Spontaneous Interventions: Design Actions for the Common Good in the U.S. pavilion was curated by Cathy Lang Ho.
A 1:1 facsimile of the Wall House designed by architect Anupama Kundoo in India, the Feel the Ground. Wall House: One to One exhibition structure was built on site by a team of Indian craftsmen and students from Australia and Venice, making it an international common ground of construction and collaboration.
A 1:1 facsimile of the Wall House designed by architect Anupama Kundoo in India, the Feel the Ground. Wall House: One to One exhibition structure was built on site by a team of Indian craftsmen and students from Australia and Venice, making it an international common ground of construction and collaboration.
The lower level of the Russian pavilion was a starscape. Inside a each circle is a photo and narrative exploring Russia’s past history of city making.
The lower level of the Russian pavilion was a starscape. Inside a each circle is a photo and narrative exploring Russia’s past history of city making.
Curated by Peter MacKeith, the exhibition that explored the Nordic common ground features a piece called “Context Box” by C-O-M-B-I-N-E, Sweden.
Curated by Peter MacKeith, the exhibition that explored the Nordic common ground features a piece called “Context Box” by C-O-M-B-I-N-E, Sweden.
The Dialogue in Details exhibition by architect Toshiko Mori shows 1:2 scale models of her research into houses by Mies, Phillip Johnson, Marcel Breuer, and Paul Rudolph,among others, and her own houses whose details are derived from an analysis of these historical projects.
The Dialogue in Details exhibition by architect Toshiko Mori shows 1:2 scale models of her research into houses by Mies, Phillip Johnson, Marcel Breuer, and Paul Rudolph,among others, and her own houses whose details are derived from an analysis of these historical projects.
Mohsen Mostafavi curated a beautiful installation of photographic documentation and analysis models of churches Nicolas Hawksmoor built in London.
Mohsen Mostafavi curated a beautiful installation of photographic documentation and analysis models of churches Nicolas Hawksmoor built in London.
An exhibition in the main Biennale pavilion explored the history of the pavilions on the Giardini campus, with personal histories rewritten by various historians, artists and writers.
An exhibition in the main Biennale pavilion explored the history of the pavilions on the Giardini campus, with personal histories rewritten by various historians, artists and writers.

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