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16th Architecture Biennale: Swiss pavilion and Baukultur
Alain Berset inaugurates the Swiss pavilion at the 16th Architecture Biennale. For the first time, the project was chosen by competition. “Svizzera 240: House Tour”, by Alessandro Bosshard, Li Tavor, Matthew van der Ploeg and Ani Vihervaara, takes visitors through an empty flat at disorienting scales; Pro Helvetia is the commissioner. The next day, the pavilion wins the Golden Lion for best national participation. In his speech, Alain Berset asks: “Wohnen wir noch – oder werden wir schon gewohnt?”
On 26 May, he opens the Federal Office of Culture’s round table “Baukultur for all?”, following up on the Davos Declaration adopted in January. An FOC survey comes out the same day: 72% of Swiss people would choose a detached house, 6% a large city. His answer: dialogue. “Vom Bauen sind alle betroffen. Deshalb sollen alle mitreden können.” The debate then brings together Antonio Hodgers, Geneva State Councillor, the sociologist Felix Keller, the architect Ludovica Molo, President of the FAS, and Christine Vollmer, editor-in-chief of “Das Einfamilienhaus”.
On the sidelines, he signs with Liechtenstein’s Minister of Culture, Aurelia Frick, the agreement associating Liechtenstein with the Youth and Music programme, and meets Xavier Bettel, Prime Minister of Luxembourg, on the European Year of Cultural Heritage.
Friday 25 May 2018 — Venice
- Signing of the Youth and Music agreement with Aurelia Frick, Minister of Culture of Liechtenstein
- Guided tour of the exhibition in the Swiss pavilion
- Official inauguration of the Swiss pavilion, speech
- Visit to other national pavilions and to the “Freespace” exhibition in the central pavilion
- Meeting with Swiss architects
Saturday 26 May 2018 — Venice
- Federal Office of Culture round table “Baukultur for all?”, opening speech
- Bilateral meeting with Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel
- Visit to the Arsenale
Speeches on this site
- Ouverture du Pavillon suisse à la 16e Biennale d’architecture de Venise (in German, French-language page)
- Culture du bâti à la 16e Biennale d’architecture de Venise (in German, French-language page)
Sources