• Hong Kong Exhibition at the 16th Venice Biennale International Architecture Exhibition

    26 April 2018

    (24 April 2018, Hong Kong) Jointly organized by The Hong Kong Institute of Architects Biennale Foundation  and the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, with The Hong Kong Institute of Architects as the Partner and Create Hong Kong (CreateHK) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) as the Lead Sponsor, “Vertical Fabric: density in landscape” the Hong Kong Exhibition at the 16th Venice Biennale International Architecture Exhibition (Hong Kong Exhibition) will be staged from 26th May to 25th November 2018 in Venice, Italy. The Hong Kong Exhibition will illustrate the urban conditions of Hong Kong with 111 white towers models designed by 94 architects from Hong Kong and abroad, making statement on tower typology in the vertical city.

    A press conference was held today (24th April) at the Hong Kong Arts Centre to announce the theme and exhibitors and introduce the curatorial team of the Hong Kong Exhibition. Officiating guests in attendance are Ms. Fiona Lam, Assistant Head of CreateHK, Mr. Ivan Ho, Chairman of The Hong Kong Institute of Architects Biennale Foundation, Mr. Marvin Chen, President of The Hong Kong Institute of Architects, and Ms. Winsome Chow, Chief Executive of Hong Kong Arts Development Council. Other guests include Professor Wang Weijen, the Chief Curator of the Hong Kong Exhibition and members of the curatorial team, etc.

    Responding to the theme of the 16th Venice Biennale International Architecture Exhibition titled “Freespace”, the Hong Kong Exhibition with curatorial team led by Professor Wang Weijen (Professor at the Department of Architecture, the University of Hong Kong) as the Chief-Curator, together with co-curators Mr. Thomas Chung (Associate Professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong) and Mr. Thomas Tsang (Associate Professor of Architecture at the University of Hong Kong), and managing curator Ms. Grace Cheng (Vice-chairperson of Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong), set a theme of “Vertical Fabric: density in landscape”.

    HK Curatorial Team Group Photo

    For the first time in the history of in Venice Biennale International Architecture Exhibition, 111 white tower models of different forms will be featured with constrains to re-define the spatial potential of Hong Kong’s typical tower architecture while maintaining its envelopes as a collective urban form. The curatorial team has invited 94 local, the Mainland, Taiwan and international architects, including Thailand, Brazil, Netherland, Japan, USA, Spain and Switzerland, etc. to design these white towers. To name a few among the list are Dong Gong, Hsieh Ying Chun, Premthada Boonserm, Bucci Angelo, Mvrdv, Takeyama Kiyoshi Sey, Bell Michael, Menis Fernando, etc. (please refer to the Appendix for the Exhibitor List)

    Mr. Ivan Ho, Chairman of The Hong Kong Institute of Architects Biennale Foundation, Organiser of the Hong Kong Exhibition said at the press conference that, “The Foundation is excited to have selected the Curatorial Team led by Professor Wang Weijang, who have created such an innovative manifesto by staging a wave of towers forming the Hong Kong urban skyline and architectural experience to the world audience in Venice. We can’t wait to see the 111 towers created by the 94 architects expressing their different ideas beyond for the city’s tower architecture.”

    Mr. Marvin Chen, President of The Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA), Partner of the Hong Kong Exhibition said on the same occasion that, “It is our honor to be the partner of the Hong Kong Exhibition at the 16th Venice Biennale International Architecture Exhibition. The Venice Biennale is one of the most influential events in the world for architects to envision the future of different architectural planning of their countries. We are going to promote Hong Kong’s well developed urban planning and architectural design and our effort to preserve local tradition and culture while continue to innovate at the Belt and Road Forum discussion.”

    Ms. Winsome Chow, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC) also remarked that, “HKADC has been joining hands with HKIA since 2006 to bring Hong Kong architects to the international cultural events. We believe that by staging in international events like the Venice Biennale would continue to promote cultural exchange and establish partnership and enable Hong Kong architects to shine their creativity.”

    Ms. Fiona Lam, Assistant Head of CreateHK thanked The Hong Kong Institute of Architects Biennale Foundation, HKIA and the HKADC for their continuous effort in promoting Hong Kong’s architecture sector in a prestigious international arena like the Venice Biennale International Architecture Exhibition.

    The curatorial team of the Hong Kong Exhibition has provided 111 white tower model-base with infrastructures of 360mm square plan extrusion and structure of 2.0 meters in height as typical Hong Kong tower model for the participating 94 exhibitors to re-define the typological, spatial and facade potential while maintaining the constrain of its envelope as a collective urban form. By installing 111 towers marching along the courtyard extending into the exhibition rooms in Venice, the Hong Kong Exhibition will illustrate the aesthetic of density, unique and compactness of Hong Kong’s urban form.

    The chief curator of the Hong Kong Exhibition, Professor Wang Weijen explains that, “Hong Kong is unique for the compactness of our vertical architecture and urban form in high density. The Hong Kong Exhibition would become a platform for dialogue with the world, shaping a discourse of Hong Kong’s urbanism and vertical architecture. Meanwhile, we invite architects to re-think the design of tower typology beyond. Curatorial team wishes to express our incubating needs for vertical freespace while the city is facing global challenges in technology, environment, and society.”

    The Hong Kong Exhibition at the 16th Venice Beinnale International Architecture Exhibition will be exhibiting for more than five months in Venice, Italy. A response exhibition will then be held in April 2019 in the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre in the Kowloon Park. More information about the Hong Kong Exhibition “Vertical Fabric: density in landscape” will be released on the official website, event Facebook Page, and Instagram  in due course.

     

    For further information, please visit the Official Website and social media platform,

     

     

     

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