After last year’s successful presence in the Venice Biennale 2014 after years of absence in international expositions, several non-profit Iranian organizations are preparing an effective entry at the prestigious biennale this year.
Based on a proposal by the Iranian Society of Architectural Engineers (ISAE), which was approved by the ministry of roads and urban development and Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art (TMCA), Iran’s participation in the Venice Biennale 2015 was finalized in early March, Honaronline reported.
The pitch was well-received by Iranian architects, and 225 projects by 89 architects were submitted to the biennial’s secretariat by March 28. Rules allow for a maximum of one project by each participant at the exhibition. After comparative analysis of the proposed projects and submission requirements, 66 projects were finalized and sent to the organizers.
Candidate projects belong to diverse fields of architectural design, urban planning, interior designing, facade design and engineering, landscaping plus the conservation, restoration and repairs of historic structures.
They comprise a selection of different land uses including residential use (villas, apartments, and townships), trade centers, administrative offices, restaurants, hotels, recreational, sport, educational complexes, hospitals, factories, and conservation and restoration projects.
Selected projects were of diverse origins from metropolises, namely Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, Tabriz, Mashhad, to small towns of Bam (Kerman Province), Rafsanjan, Iranshahr, Takab (West Azerbaijan Province), even foreign cities like Beijing, Frankfurt, and Bangkok.
Space covering 2000m2 at the venue of this year’s edition was assigned to the Iranian pavilion within the artistic, cultural, and architectural frameworks of the exposition. Curated by Fayznia Institute and TMCA, the pavilion will be open for seven months from May 5 to November 22.
In addition, 150m2 of the Iranian pavilion is planned to be allocated to showcasing Iranian architecture in cooperation with ISAE.
The 66 selected projects will be showcased in a spatial layout of multimedia presentations alongside other Iranian works of art and culture like paintings, photography, sculptures, and artworks.
Venice Biennale was founded in 1895 and it is now one of the most prestigious global cultural events. It is at the forefront of research and promotion of new contemporary art trends, and organizes exhibitions and research in specific fields, namely art, architecture, cinema, music, and theatre.
