Minister of Roads and Urban Development Abbas Akhoundi opened Iran’s pavilion at the 15th International Architecture Exhibition of Venice Biennale on Thursday.
In a keynote speech at the inaugural ceremony, the minister said Iran and Italy have numerous plans for infrastructure cooperation.
“Our presence in this event is an important confirmation that we are determined to further our collaborations with Italy, particularly in housing and urban development,” IRNA quoted Akhoundi as saying.
The event titled “Reporting From the Front” is directed by Alejandro Aravena, the Chilean winner of this year’s Pritzker Architecture Prize. He is widely known for his long-term dedication to using architecture to achieve social equality.
“There are several battles that need to be won and several frontiers that need to be expanded in order to improve the quality of the built environment and consequently people’s quality of life,” he said, according to the organizer’s website.
“More and more people on the planet are in search of a decent place to live and the conditions to achieve it are becoming tougher and tougher by the hour.”
The exhibition with 88 artists from 37 countries will take place from May 28 to November 27 in different parts of Venice.
