The Romanian Pavilion at the 18th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia presents lost technological innovations and alternative ways of practicing as an inspiration for creating a more sustainable future. The exhibition, titled “Now Here There,” has been selected following a national competition, and welcomes visitors from May 20th until November 26th, 2023.
Curated by Emil Ivănescu and Simina Filat, exhibiting together with Cătălin Berescu, and Anca Maria Păsărin, the display seeks to reinterpret the theme “Laboratory of the Future” by inviting visitors to contemplate ideas, concepts, and innovations from connected fields to spark new conversations about the expanded role of architecture.
The path through the pavilion becomes a pedagogical one, during which new ideas emerge from understanding previous scientific innovations, dilemmas, and contradictions and exploring different approaches to practicing.
The collaboration with the National Technical Museum in Bucharest has brought original technological artifacts from the early 20th century to the space of the pavilion, featured alongside a curated selection of educational and cultural projects. The exhibition is organized into four sections: Lost Inventions, featuring forgotten Romanian innovations; Lateral Pedagogies, a collection of over 100 case studies of projects relevant to the Romanian context; Instant Garden, an exploration at the intersection of agriculture and architecture; and Co-Future Thinking, an invitation for visitors to join the conversation and contribute with ideas and insights.
