The Australian Institute of Architects today announced that John Gollings and Ivan Rijavec will head the creative team for the Australian Pavilion at the upcoming 12th Venice International Architecture Biennale.

The team’s two-part ‘NOW + WHEN Australian Urbanism’ exhibition will highlight three of Australia’s most interesting urban regions as they are ‘now’, before dramatically representing futuristic urban environments as they may be ‘when’ we reach 2100.

Opening in September 2010, the exhibition will feature a range of dazzlingly visceral digital stereoscopic images*, which will fill the two-level Philip Cox-designed Australian Pavilion and represent both the NOW and WHEN components.

On the pavilion’s upper level, NOW will feature current urban environments in Sydney, Melbourne and Surfers Paradise. Stereoscopic visuals will show contrasting views of these cities from macro-scapes at 20,000 feet to ‘helicoptering’ views of urban and architectural icons at close range. All three cities will be filmed at dusk, when the ‘Australian urban spectacle becomes luminous and articulate in conveying the way our cities work’.

On the pavilion’s lower level, WHEN will dare to imagine Australian urban spaces in 91 years time, with the intent of ‘catapulting urban debate into eye-popping visceral entertainment set in a soundscape’. Australian architects will be asked to submit 3D entries for inclusion by entering an ‘Ideas for Australian Cities 2100’ national competition. A range of entries will then be chosen focusing on the creative potential of architecture.

Two stereo screens mounted back to back at the rear of the upper and lower exhibition spaces will be the focus of the installation. An urban themed black and white geometric matrix will be projected on the walls, floors and ceilings of both levels leading to two stereo screens, which will feature the urban environments in continuous three minute loop cycles.

Announcing the Creative Directors at functions in Sydney and Melbourne, recently appointed Venice Biennale Commissioner Mrs Janet Holmes à Court said: “As countries around the world continue to move into a post-GFC economic recovery phase, it’s vital that Australia maximises every opportunity to reinforce the nation’s competitive strengths and standing on the world stage.”

“The Venice Architecture Biennale, now widely regarded as the most important event on the international architecture calendar, is one of these un-missable opportunities. While the 2008 event attracted 130,000 informed visitors from around the globe over 10 weeks, we have every reason to believe the 2010 Biennale will eclipse this.

“I have every confidence that the appointment of our 2010 Creative Director team – led by John Gollings and Ivan Rijavec – affords us a great head-start in the promotion of the nation’s incredibly rich and diverse architectural talent.”

The full 2010 Creative Directors Team comprises Australia’s preeminent architectural photographer John Gollings, leading Melbourne-based architect Ivan Rijavec, graphic designer David Pidgeon, astrophysicist Professor Jeffrey Shaw, architect and sound designer Nick Murray and 3D experts Sam Slicer and Daniel Flood.

A total of 29 submissions were received for the role of Creative Director, with five proposals shortlisted in a rigorous selection process ahead of today’s announcement of the winning team.

The Venice Architecture Biennale was inaugurated in 1980 and is now held every two years, alternating with the Art Biennale. Thousands of the world’s leading architects and city planners plus more than 52,000 people visited the 2008 Australian Pavilion.

Australia’s attendance at the Venice Architecture Biennale is an initiative of the Australian Institute of Architects, who pledged funding for each of three Venice Architecture Biennales – 2006, 2008 and 2010. Fundraising efforts continue to guarantee an ongoing presence in Venice.

The Institute would like to thank our Network Venice practices, significant donors, and our sponsors, specifically Austral Bricks, Virgin Atlantic Airways, Zip Industries, Architecture Media, Café di Stasio, and the Australia Council for the Arts

*Stereoscopic imaging will form the basis of this exhibition. Stereoscopy, stereoscopic imaging or 3-D (three-dimensional) imaging is any technique capable of recording three-dimensional visual information or creating the illusion of depth in an image. This illusion of depth – in a photograph, movie, or other two-dimensional image – is created by presenting a slightly different image to each eye.

BACKGROUNDER

2010 Venice Architecture Biennale Australian Pavilion: Creative Director biographies

CO-CREATIVE DIRECTOR – JOHN GOLLINGS, GOLLINGS PHOTOGRAPHY
Gollings Photography is a photographic business based on the use of the latest digital technology producing strong iconic photographic imagery. John Gollings is one of Australia’s premier architectural photographer’s, who successfully applies a visionary ideology across all areas of his work – weather it be corporate, advertising, commercial, architectural, aerial or environmental. John’s works is characterised by strong formal composition but with a didactic, and wider, contextual viewpoint. He brings the technical resources and craft skills of a very experienced photographer to a discipline which often lacks either a point of view or the ability to express it. Recently more time has been spent on longer term projects with academic or cultural significance for books, exhibitions and fine prints.

CO-CREATIVE DIRECTOR – IVAN RIJAVEC, RIJAVEC ARCHITECTS
Director B Arch M Arch FAIA
Rijavec Architects is headed by Principal Ivan Rijavec and is an innovative Australian architectural practice established in January 1979. Since then, the firm has been acknowledged in design journals, books, by way of Australian Institute of Architects’ merit awards, invitations to participate in forums and artists-in-residence programs, and requests to address professional and academic institutions throughout Australia.

CONSULTANT TEAM

DESIGN BY PIDGEON
Design By Pidgeon’s work has been described as satisfying the eye and the mind. Their approach, whether designing an identity, signage system, book or packaging, always starts
with a strong conceptual idea designed to engage their audience while communicating to them. Their strength is in the analysis of the brief, which allows the development of concepts that may be obvious or abstract, but always contain an element of the unexpected. The independent nature of the studio ensures that the creative direction of any project is managed hands-on by David Pidgeon.

PROFESSOR JEFFREY SHAW
Professor Jeffrey Shaw is regarded as one of the key international researchers in the field of interactive digital cinema. Professor Shaw is currently Director of the iCinema Research Centre, at the University of NSW’s Creative Media Institute. Under his direction, the Institute has become one of the world’s premier research institutes in the field of interactive digital cinema. Professor Shaw has initiated, supervised or commissioned some of the most important international research projects in interactive narrative forms, including The Tree of Knowledge, 1998, by Bill Viola and Sonomorphosis by Bernd Lintermann.

FLOODSLICER
FloodSlicer is a pioneer in the production of architectural 3D imagery using new technologies. Australia’s leading exponent of digitally-produced stills and animations, they are known for grand iconography and sweeping cinematic scope, and are the acknowledged masters in photo-real architectural visualisations. The directors are Daniel Flood and Samantha Slicer.

The Australian Institute of Architects is the peak body for the architectural profession, representing more than 8000 members across Australia and overseas. The Institute actively works to improve the quality of our built environment by promoting quality, responsible and sustainable design. Visit the Institute at architecture.com.au.
Australian Institute of Architects