Venice Biennale 2012: Walk in Architecture / Republic of Korea Pavilion

© Nico Saieh

The pavilion aspires to shed new light onto the status of Korean Architecture allowing the outside world to acquire a deeper and more in-depth understanding of what is currently relevant in the field of architecture in the country. “Walk in Architecture” expresses an idea and at the same time its paradox; it treats architecture as a place or a subject, like “Walk in Venice” or “Walk in a forest”. Walk is a collective action which combines associations: when you walk you think, you meditate, you observe, you dream, you wonder.

The exhibit is is supported by thin wooden supports, holding drawings, diagrams and video displays. Great examples from a country where pedestrians are taking more space than cars. This takes place at the Korean Pavilion at the Giardini, designed by Seok Chul Kim and Franco Mancuso in 1995.

Theme exploration, in the form of five walks:

© Nico Saieh

01_POST MAX, The future of Korean Architectur > TOMORROW

Recent architectural developments have alienated a sense of community from the public realm, setting the built environment in opposition to the natural habitat. Post Max seeks a new reciprocity between nature and society, to re establish the communal values that for centuries have been parto of the Korean architectural landscape.

02_POST GRAY, A sustainable outlook beyond the modern > TOGETHER

Post grey is a new architectural paradigma which breaks away from the dogmatic syntax of modern architecture allowing the discipline to evolve beyond the infatuation with representation towards a sustainable and holistic vision.

03_ENGRAVING EMOTIONS, Existing and Past conditions > EXISTING

© Nico Saieh

Everyday spaces, the existing spaces we dwell in, express a deep resonance within our memories. The everyday context creates a common atmosphere that allows us to belong to a place. Place and belonging become engraved in architecture.

04_ENGRAVING TECTONICS, Positioning ourselves within nature > BETWEEN

Craftsmanship, the act of assembling buildings, is a trade that modernization is gradually eroding from Korean culture. Engraving tectonics enquires what craftsmanship is today, how with the advent of digital fabrication can a sense the poetic tectonics still be aspired and achieved.

05_WAY TACTILITY, Architecture related to the senses > TANGIBLE

© Nico Saieh

Traditional Korean architecture aspires to stimulate the senses through a careful manipulation of space, material and human proportions. Today’s generic environment so prevalent in our cities, have worn out this sense of complexity, creating a default homogeneous surrounding. Korean space has been lobotomized. This theme seeks to rediscover the tangible side of architecture.

© Nico Saieh

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Cite: David Basulto. "Venice Biennale 2012: Walk in Architecture / Republic of Korea Pavilion" 27 Aug 2012. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/267153/venice-biennale-2012-walk-in-architecture-republic-of-korea-pavilion> ISSN 0719-8884

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