Formations: New Practices in Australian Architecture, Australia’s exhibition at the 2012 Venice Architecture Biennale attracted over 70,000 visitors during the three month international event.

Coming to a close on Sunday 25 November, the 13th International Architecture Exhibition – Common Ground, curated by David Chipperfield, experienced a daily average of more than 2000 patrons taking final visitor figures to 178,000, an increase of 4.7 per cent compared to the last Architecture Biennale in 2010.

Formations, devised by Creative Directors Anthony Burke and Gerard Reinmuth with TOKO Concept Design, showcased six innovative architectural groups that inspired discussion and debate around the changing role of architects and the ways in which they influence the world around them in response to new economic, social and cultural challenges.

‘The Formations exhibition drew attention to, and applauded the incredible breadth and reach of diverse architectural approaches. It exposed the work many Australian Architects are doing beyond architecture in that traditional sense… significant work which extends our contribution to this place – our world – and to people’s lives,’ observed Shelley Penn, Australian Institute of Architects National President.

The six featured teams were Healthabitat (Paul Pholeros, Stephan Rainow, Paul Torzillo),Supermanoeuvre (Dave Pigram, Iain Maxwell, Chris Duffield), Richard Goodwin Pty Ltd (Richard Goodwin), 2112Ai 100YR City (Tom Kovac, Fleur Watson), The Architects Radio Show (Stuart Harrison, Simon Knott, Christine Philips, Rory Hyde), and Archrival (Claire McCaughan, Lucy Humphrey).

The team’s installations and concepts included a robotically fabricated structure, roaming radio broadcast, humanitarian aid work, a zip-line, sculptural Foosball tables, and a digital depiction of futuristic urban visions.

Major international design media were drawn to the exhibition in the Australian Pavilion for its dynamic display and in-depth themes, with coverage appearing in prestigious publications including World Architecture News, The Guardian, ArchDaily and Designboom, reaching audiences in excess of six million.

Visit www.architecture.com.au/formations/mediakit for the full Formations media kit that includes high resolution images of the exhibition, the full suite of media releases, biographies of the participants, and more.

————-

For media enquiries contact:

Alexandra Cato
National Media and Communications Officer
Australian Institute of Architects
P. +61 (3) 8620 3813 | M. +61 (0)416 022 818
alexandra.cato@architecture.com.au

Notes to the editor 

Australia’s attendance at the Venice Architecture Biennale is an initiative of the Australian Institute of Architects. The Institute has coordinated Australia’s presence at the Venice Architecture Biennale since 2006 and is committed to supporting the event until at least 2016.

The exhibition is supported by Brand Australia, the Victorian Government through Arts Victoria, NSW Department of Trade and Investment, the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland, part of the Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts, the City of Sydney, Austral Bricks, Zip Industries, NSW Architects Registration Board, University of Technology Sydney, University of Canberra, Autodesk, Smeg, Steensen Varming, IBL Limited, Café di Stasio, ERCO and Architecture Media. In addition, the Institute gratefully acknowledges the support given by the Australia Council for the Arts, including the use of the Pavilion for the exhibition.

We also thank the architecture community through Network Venice practices and significant donors for the generous financial support they have contributed.