1907 … after the party. Context as critical mass
The exhibition in the Belgian pavilion, in 2008 organised on the initiative of the Flemish Community, shows the result of a design competition between thirteen young Flemish architectural firms who over the last few years have all taken part in the ‘35m³ young architecture’ exhibitions at deSingel in Antwerp (2005-2008).The figure in the title refers on the one hand to the year when the Belgian pavilion was built – the first foreign one in the Giardini, designed by the architect Léon Sneyers (1877-1949), pupil of the art nouveau architect Paul Hankar) – and on the other to the internal volume of the building in cubic metres, thus also making reference to a real physical space.
The curator put the context of the pavilion as a ‘critical mass’ at the heart of the competition assignment: ‘Give the existing building, as part of its immediate surroundings, an architectural use and function that can be experienced on a scale of 1:1 with regard to its location (a public park), status (cultural embassy), history (of the Giardini) and/or context (an international platform for architecture).’ In contrast to the art object, which is autonomous, architecture is heteronomous and is thus defined from outside itself. The urge behind architecture is not to be exhibited, but to be built. So the project will not involve models or plans, but architecture as a reality that can be experienced physically. An international jury comprising, among others, Petra Blaisse (Amsterdam), Mike Guyer (Zurich) and Anne Lacaton (Paris) chose Office Kersten Geers David Van Severen (Brussels) as the winner.
1907 … after the party. Tribute to the pavilion
Under the title '1907 ... after the party', Office Kersten Geers David Van Severen made an architecturally lucid and physically confrontational response to the competition assignment that could be read in a variety of ways. The project is a tribute to the historical pavilion and puts it on show in its purest form as a monument, accessible from all sides, empty and stripped of all secondary additions. This is achieved by means of a seven-metre-high double-walled facade in galvanised steel which does not allow the visitor an initial view from the promenade. This architecture, which looks both solid and filigreed, provides the setting, like a new pavilion, for what is being exhibited, which is the architecture of the existing Belgian pavilion. Between the building and the added facades, the existing rooms and the new patio, there is an emphatic interaction between and inversion of the interior and exterior spaces. This impression is enhanced by the confetti scattered around the site and the randomly positioned chairs. The monumental enclosure raises not only topical political, social and ecological issues, but also evokes a sentimental sense of a party that is over: the celebration of the centenary of the Belgian pavilion in 2007, which never actually took place.
In addition to this exterior architectural intervention, all the competition projects are exhibited inside the pavilion. Two photographic works enhance the atmosphere of the project: a large print by the German artist Thomas Demand and the photo by the French fashion photographer Hedi Slimane that was used for the campaign.
Biographies
Office Kersten Geers David Van Severen was established in 2002 by Kersten Geers (1975, Ghent) and David Van Severen (1978, Ghent). They both studied architecture at Ghent University and the Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura in Madrid. They also both teach at the TU Delft, the Berlage Institute in Rotterdam and Ghent University. Their work includes: a notary’s office in Antwerp (2004, built), a university library in Berlin (2005, competition), Border Garden, Mexico (2005, competition, 1st prize, with Wonne Ickx), A Grammar for the City, South Korea (2005, competition, 1st prize, with Dogma), Cité de Réfuge, Ceuta, Spain (2006, study project for the Architecture Biennale in Rotterdam), 20 Rooms, House in Ghent (2007, under construction), Patio Villa, Ghent (2007, built), bridge at the Handelsbeurs, Ghent (2008, built), Masterplan for Kortrijk XPO (2008, under construction).
Thomas Demand (1964, Munich, lives in Berlin) is an artist. He is known for his unique photos based on rooms built of paper that refer to social and political polemics. In 2005 the MoMa in New York held the first retrospective of his work.
Hedi Slimane (1968, Paris, lives in Paris) is a fashion designer. He worked for Yves Saint Laurent (1996-1999) and Christian Dior (2000-2007). In 2002 he was proclaimed designer of the year by the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America).
Moritz Küng (1961, Lucerne, Switzerland, lives in Brussels) is a curator and since 2003 has been responsible for the exhibition programme at deSingel, the international arts campus in Antwerp. In 2002 he curated the Belgian entry for the 25th art biennale in Sao Paulo.
1907 competition
Entries by BARAK (Carl Bourgeois, Tijl Vanmeirhaeghe), Ghent, BAVO (Gideon Boie, Matthias Pauwels), Brussels, Kristoffel Boghaert, Ghent, Maur Dessauvage & Afagh Mohammadi, Bruges, Jan De Vylder architects, Ghent, Pieter D’haeseleer & Kris Kimpe & Bruno Poelaert, Antwerp, Jo Taillieu, Gooik, noA architects (An Fonteyne, Jitse van den Berg, Philippe Vierin), Brussels, noumenon (Carl De Smet, Pierre de Gelder), Brussels, NU-architectuuratelier (Armand Eeckels, Halewijn Lievens), Ghent, Office Kersten Geers David Van Severen, Brussels, URA (Yves Malisse, Kiki Verbeeck, Joost Verstraete), Brussels, Kurt Van Belle & Patricia Medina, Antwerp.
1907 … after the party. The organisers
deSingel international arts campus
Has since 1983 been presenting and coproducing high-quality contemporary and international performing arts (concerts, dance and theatre performances). It also holds exhibitions on architecture and related arts and regularly publishes catalogues. While the biennale is on, two other exhibitions produced by deSingel can be seen:
- ‘Christian Kerez - Construction, Privacy, Politics, Conflicts & Obsession’ (18.09 – 2.11.2008, deSingel, Antwerp, Belgium)
- ‘Kazuyo Sejima + Ryue Nishizawa / Sanaa & Walter Niedermayr’ (16.09. – 2.11.2008, Accademia di architettura di Mendrisio, Switzerland).
www.desingel.be
VAi, Flemish Architecture Institute
Is a centre for contemporary architecture whose aim is to increase awareness of good-quality present-day architecture, not only among the general public but also professionals, researchers, the media and the government. In a variety of ways the VAi distributes information on buildings, institutions, publications, periodicals, competitions and events in Flanders.
www.vai.be
A+
Is the magazine for architecture in Belgium. Its circulation of 14,000 copies makes it the most widely-read and it is also the most collected. A+ is published by the Information Centre for Architecture, Urban Planning and Design (ICASD) every two months, with separate issues in Dutch and French. A+ presents the latest projects by Belgian architects at home and abroad, and leads architectural debate against an international background.
www.a-plus.be
Practical information
Catalogue:
A+ special issue
1907 … after the party
96 pages, English/Italian €12
with articles by Wouter Davidts & Andrea Phillips, Stefan Devoldere, Moritz Küng and Katrien Vandermarliere
on sale in the Biennale bookshop or at www.desingel.be / www.vai.be / www.a-plus.be
Opening hours at Giardini della Biennale & Arsenale
14.09 – 23.11.2008
10 am – 6 pm, every day
Ticket sales: Giardini and Arsenale
Admission:
Full price: €15
Students (with card / under-26s): €8
Families (2 adults + 2 children under 14): €35
Groups of minimum 10 people (must be booked in advance): €10 pp
Groups of minimum 10 students (must be booked in advance): €6 pp
Info: 39-041-52.18.828, promozione@labiennale.org www.labiennale.org
How to get there:
Giardini: Actv lines 1 / 41 / 42 / 51 / 52 / 61 / 62
Arsenale: Actv lines 1/ 41 / 42
Colophon
Commissioned by: Bert Anciaux, Flemish Minister of Culture, Youth, Sport and Brussels
Architects: Office Kersten Geers David Van Severen
Curator: Moritz Küng
Producer: Jerry Aerts, director of deSingel international arts campus, Antwerp
Executive producer: Katrien Vandermarliere, director of VAi, Flemish Architecture Institute, Antwerp
Exhibition coordinator: Roeland Dudal, VAi, Antwerp
Construction coordinator: Jan de Clercq, nuvolab, Florence, Italy
Engineer: Rolf Vansteenwegen, UTIL, Brussels
Catalogue: A+, Belgian architectural magazine, Brussels
Local consultant: Michel Regnault De la Mothe, architect, Venice
