The 2021 Venice Biennale

In ASCHB's first talk for 2022, Alexandra di Valmarana takes us on a whistle-stop tour of the Giardini Pavilions and Arsenale exhibitions, bringing in her vast local and international knowledge into play to shed some light on common themes of climate, sustainability, resources, adaptive re-use, indigenous materiality, vernacular traditions, and migration.

The 17th Biennale Architettura Venice (Venice International Architecture Exhibition) ran from 22 May to 21 November 2021, under the theme "How will we live together?", as curated by architect and scholar Hashim Sarkis. One hundred and twelve participants from 46 countries, with strong delegations from Africa, Latin America and Asia and a wide female representation, brought to life the historic Pavilions in the Giardini, the Arsenale and in the historic city centre of Venice.

The Exhibition was organised into five scales (Among Diverse Beings, As New Households, As Emerging Communities, Across Borders, As One Planet), three in the Arsenale, and two in the Central Pavilion.

As Sarkis has commented: “We need a new spatial contract. In the context of widening political divides and growing economic inequalities, we call on architects to imagine spaces in which we can generously live together.”. 

Alexandra di Valmarana, has 25 years of international experience in the architecture and heritage sector with Peregrine Bryant Architects, where she was a partner in the practice and remains a consultant. She is a designer and conservator, specialising in sustainable development, heritage consulting, and material science of the built historic environment, with significant on site construction and management experience .

She has worked with UNESCO World Heritage sites, The National Trust, The Crown Estate, Landmark Trust and private clients throughout the US, UK, Italy and the Caribbean. Alexandra is on the ASCHB committee and the Board of Directors for the University of Virginia Architecture School Foundation, The Centre for Palladian Studies in America, The Friends of the Georgian Society of Jamaica, and The Gloria and Marco Foundation (following Grenfell).