Venice Biennale 2012: SPAINLab / Spain Pavilion


During the 13th Venice Architecture Biennale opening, we had the chance to interview Débora Mesa, curator of the Spain Pavilion together with Antón García-Abril, partners at Ensamble Studio.

SPAINLab, the name of the exhibit, looks to expose the research process behind the works of contemporary Spanish Architects:

© Nico Saieh

More photos about the pavilion and description from Anton and Débora after the break:

Holy Redeemer Church / Menis Arquitectos

Courtesy of

Architects: Menis Arquitectos
Location: San Cristóbal de la Laguna, Tenerife,
Parish Architect: Fernando Menis
Photographs: Simona Rotta, Courtesy of Menis Arquitectos

Venice Biennale 2012: INTO THE WALL / Menis Arquitectos

Courtesy of

Renowned architect Fernando Menis has been invited as the only Canarian architect to present his proposal at the Venice Biennale, starting August 29th. Menis will invite visitors “INTO THE WALL” with his handcrafted installation that will feature a selection of his most innovative projects, represented in black Foamglass. Some of these projects include the Auditorium of Pájara (Fuerteventura), Tower Agora Garden (Taiwan) and the protagonist of the facility, the Auditorium of Torun (Poland).

Menis / menis arquitectos


A short time ago we received a monograph of ’ work. We are big fans of ’ work and have featured some of his projects (see here).  The photography in this book from photographers like Kim Yong-Kwan and Roland Halbe really pull you into Menis’ work. The work has a great textural quality about it. You find yourself touching the page wishing you could experience the actual project. As noted in the book, “Fernando Menis’ works combine physical grip with mental freedom, tactile attachment to constructive matter and the visual imagery of his compositional language, close ties with the mineral landscape of the Canary Islands and the rich catalogue of their frond references.”

Auditorium and Congress Center / Menis Arquitectos

Fernando Menis, of Spanish practice Menis Arquitectos, has been announced the winner of the design of an for Morro Jable.  Taking inspiration from the rocky hillside site above the beaches, Menis describes the design as “a piece which recalls a broken rock, coming away from earth.”

More images and further project description after the break.