The 17^th International Architecture Exhibition has seen the board of La Biennale di Venezia meet, appoint Hashim Sarkis as curator and watch Sarkis’ assertation of the ‘overlooked role of the architect’ call upon reverie.

Sarkis’ titling of the Biennale ‘How will we live together?’ is a decision demanding a new spatial contract to be called into question by architects, taking place on 23 May 2020 to 29 November 2020.

Hashim Sarkis, director of the 17^th International Architecture Exhibition, said that the context of widening political divides and growing economic inequalities calls upon architects to imagine spaces in which we can generously live together.

“Together as human beings who, despite our increasing individuality, yearn to connect with one another and with other species across digital and real space.”

With keywords suggesting this year’s themes such as ‘diverse’, ‘dignified spaces for inhabitation’, ‘emerging communities’ and some cumbersome - ‘as a planet facing crises that require global action for us to continue living at all’ – this Biennale urges architects to rise to its world’s challenges.

The architects invited to participate in Biennale Architettura 2020 are encouraged to engage other professions and constituencies such as artists, builds, craftspeople, journalist, politicians and everyday citizens.

The curators of the national participations are called upon to address one or more for the sub-theme of the Biennale.

The need for more inclusive social housing and equipment or for more connective urban structures remains as a topical issue especially in emerging economies as well as in advanced ones.

Paolo Baratta, president of La Biennale di Venezia, says Sarkis will provide La Biennale a curator who is particularly aware of the topics and criticalities which the various contrasting realities of today’s society pose for our living space.

Sarah Buckley

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