Architectural Cases

Architectural Engagement: Bridging Theory and Reality

The Vision for the 20th International Architecture Exhibition

Curators Wang Shu and Lu Wenyu have announced the theme for the 20th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, titled "Do Architecture: The Possibility of Coexistence in the Face of Real Reality." Set to take place from May 8th to November 21st, 2027, this theme reorients architecture as a direct, tangible response to the multifaceted challenges of an unstable global environment. It signifies a notable pivot from technologically-driven dialogues towards an approach deeply rooted in physical reality, emphasizing materials, community engagement, traditional skills, and daily experiences.

Addressing Global Instability Through Concrete Actions

The chosen theme aims to confront the instability generated by ecological crises, accelerated urbanization, the abstract nature of technology, and the gradual loss of cultural memory. By selecting the direct and action-oriented title "Do Architecture," the curators advocate for a return to fundamental architectural principles. This call to action urges the profession to transcend excessive conceptualization and re-establish a profound connection with the physical processes of construction, inhabitation, and the harmonious coexistence of elements.

Reconnecting Architecture with 'Real Reality'

In their introduction, Wang Shu and Lu Wenyu characterize the current global situation as one marked by uncertainty, volatility, and a detachment from genuine experience. They contend that modern architecture has frequently lost touch with the specific locales and communities it is intended to serve. The curators caution against architectural practices driven purely by commercial interests, speed, and superficial imagery, stating that "overly conceptual experiments are often detached from reality."

Acknowledging Architecture's Role in Crisis

Wang Shu and Lu Wenyu explicitly link architecture's current practices to the ongoing environmental and cultural crises. They assert that "architecture must recognize the depth of the crisis in which it finds itself," highlighting the detrimental effects of large-scale construction on both natural ecosystems and historical urban landscapes. The exhibition proposes an alternative: a more deliberate and hands-on architectural methodology that prioritizes continuity, memory, and restoration.

The Revival of Craftsmanship, Memory, and Local Knowledge

A core tenet of the Biennale's curatorial approach draws inspiration from Amateur Architecture Studio, founded by Wang Shu and Lu Wenyu. Their work consistently explores the use of repurposed materials, indigenous building techniques, and the integration of both ancient and modern construction methods. The curators stress the critical importance of not only salvaging materials but also revitalizing local cultural narratives and artisanal skills, advocating for architecture that champions the diversity and unique character of various places.

Interrogating Contemporary Challenges and Solutions

The exhibition will delve into a range of critical questions concerning architecture's relationship with climate change, artificial intelligence, rural and urban development, and collective participation. A central inquiry posed during the announcement was: "Can artificial intelligence coexist with the tactility of human architecture?" The Biennale intends to explore how passive and active environmental strategies, traditional construction expertise, and cutting-edge technologies can harmoniously coexist without eroding local identities and lived experiences.

Venice: A Living Canvas for Architectural Intervention

Beyond the traditional venues of the Giardini and the Arsenale, the 2027 Biennale will integrate architectural interventions directly into the city of Venice itself. Drawing parallels to the 1964 Venice Charter on heritage conservation, Wang Shu and Lu Wenyu view Venice as an active participant in the exhibition. The curatorial duo emphasized the need to acknowledge and engage with "the city in which the exhibition is taking place, Venice," citing Italo Calvino to prevent it from becoming "an invisible city."

Emphasizing Education and Collective Engagement

The curators also underscored the significant role of education and collaborative exchange within the Biennale. They envision workshops, dialogues, and direct participatory activities that extend beyond mere discussion to encompass physical involvement and actual construction. Their concluding sentiment, "We should not only discuss, we should do," encapsulates the spirit of practical engagement.

A Call to Re-evaluate Architecture's Core Principles

The 2027 edition marks the 20th International Architecture Exhibition since architecture became an independent department of the Biennale in 1980, under the direction of Paolo Portoghesi. With "Do Architecture," Wang Shu and Lu Wenyu position this anniversary event as a compelling invitation to re-conceptualize architecture as an ethical and material practice firmly anchored in coexistence, continuity, and tangible reality.

Where Imagination Grows: Unveiling Kunshan's Block Kindergarten

Architectural Vision: Building Blocks of Learning Amidst Urban Density

The Block Kindergarten, designed by SoBa Architects, is strategically situated in Kunshan, Jiangsu Province, China. This 9,012-square-meter facility, intended for 21 classes, directly addresses the spatial challenges of its urban location, which is characterized by towering residential buildings and essential city infrastructure. The design cleverly combines enclosed architectural forms with multi-layered landscape elements to carve out a secure and engaging campus for its young occupants.

Creating a Protected Haven: Mitigating Urban Challenges with Green Buffers

With high-rise structures dominating the northern and eastern perimeters, and various utility facilities along the southern edge, the kindergarten's design focuses on establishing a shielded internal sanctuary. Simultaneously, it maintains a gradual and controlled visual connection to the broader city and natural environment. By strategically shifting the building mass northward, the project incorporates a dense green buffer along the southern boundary, effectively utilizing the landscape as a protective and environmental barrier between the school and the adjacent infrastructure.

Modular Design and Central Courtyard: A Fragmented Castle for Play

The architectural scheme draws inspiration from modular blocks, resulting in a composition of stacked and offset volumes. This arrangement evokes a fragmented, castle-like appearance, offering both clear spatial organization and diverse outdoor experiences. A central courtyard, enclosed by the building's layout, serves as the primary outdoor area for children's play, movement, and daily activities. Strategically placed openings on the southern facade, featuring staircases and transparent glass sections, punctuate the enclosure. These elements frame specific views of the city, sky, and surrounding trees, preserving the courtyard's privacy while allowing children to remain connected to the larger urban context.

Sensory Rich Environments: Integrating Light, Color, and Nature for Enhanced Learning

SoBa Architects has meticulously integrated light, color, and scale to create an emotionally resonant and sensorily rich learning environment throughout the kindergarten. Different saturation and brightness levels in color schemes help distinguish various zones, such as circulation areas, classrooms, and communal spaces, thereby aiding sensory perception and spatial orientation for the children. The design ethos embraces "emotional architecture," orchestrating these elements to influence atmosphere and spatial experience.

Harmony with Nature: Fostering Ecological Understanding through Design

Natural light floods the interiors through courtyards, corridors, and expansive glazed openings, ensuring dynamic and ever-changing internal conditions. The building's north-south alignment positions lower volumes to the south and taller ones to the north, optimizing daylight penetration. Classrooms are located along the perimeter to maximize natural light, while support services are concentrated on the western side. Administrative offices are housed on upper levels, and shared facilities like the multipurpose hall, reading room, and music room are placed at the junctions of different building sections. At the heart of the campus, the courtyard features play areas, gardens, and landscaped zones arranged in a planetary diagram, echoing the solar system. This design, with its radiating orbital paths, structures diverse activity spaces and reinforces the kindergarten's educational emphasis on nature and environmental observation. Further ecological learning is supported by a planting garden, where children can witness seasonal growth cycles, and a rain garden that collects stormwater, integrating environmental processes into daily campus life. Through this thoughtful combination of modular architecture, secure courtyards, protective landscapes, and sensory design strategies, Block Kindergarten by SoBa Architects successfully cultivates an enriching educational space that harmonizes urban demands with the inherent curiosity and perception of childhood.