Preservation: OMA/AMO at the Venice Biennale 2010.

OMA/AMO exhibition at the Venice Biennale 2010
The following text is from the panels of OMA/AMO’s preservation exhibition at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2010:

"Architects - we who change the world - have been oblivious or hostile to the manifestations of preservation. Since 1980, in Protoghesis's "Presence of the Past", there has been almost no attention paid to preservation in successive architecture Biennales.

Preservation: ‘Falcon City of Wonders’

‘Falcon City of Wonders’ is a major construction project in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. It is an approximately 7 square-kilometer large urban development which main characteristic are reproductions of the seven wonders of the ancient world, as well as the Eiffel Tower and the Taj Mahal. Construction has started in 2008, however, the financial crisis of 2008 has paused the project. If the project is ever finished - will it make the people want to see the original monuments or does it reduces the value of the real?

[official link: http://www.falconcity.com]

Preservation: Facadism.

'facadism' in Hamburg

‘Facadism’ is a growing practice of developers and architects to retain only the existing facade of historic buildings. The structure is demolished but the face of a building stays intact. The original architecture is reduced to its most superficial elements - the facade. In the most radical form of ‘Facadism’ only the front elevation is maintained. Usually a radical change in the building’s architectural program and/or economic interests justify the method. ‘Facadism’ is a controversial balancing act between the demand for city renovation and people’s desire for preservation.

The ICOMOS Charters of Venice (International Council on Monuments and Sites) points out that “A monument is inseparable from the history to which it bears witness and from the setting in which it occurs. The moving of all or part of a monument cannot be allowed except where the safeguarding of that monument demands it or where it is justified by national or international interest of paramount importance.”

facadism = decorated shed? (from Venturi/Scott Brown - Learning from Las Vegas)

‘Facadism’ seems to be a too simple way of dealing preservation issues in architecture. It should be declined when only commercial interests lead to the destruction of quality interior spaces.

['Facadism' in German means 'Entkernung'. See the Novotel Hotel designed by A. Krischanitz (built by Atelier Hayde) as example of 'facadism' in Vienna, Austria.]

Novotel, by A. Krischanitz, image by Novotel, apparently the building was not published on Krischanitz's website

Hi again,

anArchitecture got seven - by Internet means - it’s almost an eternity - for architecture, maybe just a moment. Whereas the Internet has developed rapidly in the last years, architecture moves much slower. We tumble between countless trends, not knowing where the journey goes. Being an architect, it seems, is more difficult than ever. Anyway, it’s time to have a little make up. Let's see what’s on its way. See you, Christoph

The Biennale in Venice - The 12th International Architecture Exhibition.

Cloud, by Matthias Schuler and Tetsuo Kondo

When coming to Venice, the first impression of the 2010 Architecture Biennale is pretty straightforward: “People meet in Architecture” is written above the Ponte degli Scalzi, next to the train station: in the typeface Helvetica. 2008, the Venice Biennale has been a vain and loud spectacle for long-serving architecture’s stars, this year however the exhibition is cautious. Instead of fancy architecture dreams, Kazuyo Sejima - the director of the Biennale - presents architecture’s essence : “The 2010 Architecture Biennale should be a reflection on architecture”, she said.