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2nd International Architecture Biennale
Rotterdam
Arriving in the Netherlands from Johannesburg one is struck, not surprisingly, by the glorious abundance of water. Particularly at this time of year, when everything on the Highveld is covered by a thin layer of dust and the very air is parched. The verdant green landscape of the Netherlands, meticulously dissected by a network of canals, and the carefully organised urbanscape of the Dutch cities provide such a striking contrast from home that one is acutely aware of being on the other side of the world.
The Dutch have a heritage of building on and alongside water that dates back over a thousand years. It is therefore appropriate that the theme for the 2nd International Architecture Biennale
Rotterdam, currently in progress, is 'The Flood'. Always topical, the theme of water is particularly compelling at the moment - remembering the tsunami in Asia less than six months ago, and experiencing the seasonal shifts and extremities caused by global warming. The Biennale is significant for recognising that decision-makers, architects, planners and scientists are being forced to prioritise the issue of water, and for providing a problem-solving platform for professionals.
Architect Africa spent six enviable days observing and participating in the debates, discussions and social events held at the start of the Biennale. Of particular interest to architectural professionals working in developing contexts was the exhibition and conference Mare
Nostrum, which centred around coastal urban developments (current and proposed) from around the world. Several relevant topics were debated, such as the impact of tourism on local cultures and economies, and the sustainability of coastal resorts. Key issues, which Africa is only beginning to address.
We were also surprised and pleased to see South Africa represented in this exhibition, under the guidance of Professor Lindsay Bremner.
Congratulations to Supersudaca! who won the Best Entry Award from the Mare Nostrum exhibition. In their very effective presentation on the Caribbean, they managed to convey a large amount of important new knowledge on the urban, social, economical and cultural consequences of mass tourism on a relatively poor but very beautiful region.
Also of interest in the City Program was the DVD Presentation 'Lagos Wide & Close' - an interactive presentation on the Nigerian capital based on research by the
Harvard Project on the
City, under the direction of Rem Koolhaas.
In an exclusive interview with Architect Africa, the curator of the Biennale, Adriaan
Geuze, said, "We wanted to have a smaller Biennale with very serious content which could result in a deeper debate. Then the things which were experienced here could be taken back to other countries, and not as a sort of window-dressing, but as a better understanding."
Read the rest of the interview here.
For more information on the 2nd International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam, visit
http://biennalerotterdam.nl |
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