The Austrian Pavilion at the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale will delve into the pressing issues of migration and affordable housing, inviting visitors to participate in discussions and share ideas on better living conditions. The pavilion, designed by Josef Hoffmann and inaugurated in 1934, will be transformed into an interactive space with the launch of the “Agency for Better Living” exhibition.
The curatorial concept, led by Lorenzo Romito, Sabine Pollak, and Michael Obrist, contrasts two approaches to social housing: Vienna’s top-down model and Rome’s bottom-up practices. By juxtaposing these two systems, the curators aim to learn from the differences and similarities between institutionally organized and self-managed approaches.
The exhibition will feature a discussion space where visitors can engage with activists, residents, experts, and others passionate about creating better living conditions. Throughout the Biennale, the pavilion will host presentations, talks, and workshops, fostering a creative environment for the exchange of ideas.
The primary objective is to gather a wide range of experiences and knowledge from various voices, places, and institutions. The discussions will be compiled in a special issue of the architecture and urbanism magazine ARCH+, titled “Agency for Better Living.”
Key aspects of the exhibition include:
– Exploration of social housing models in Vienna and Rome
– Contrast between top-down and bottom-up approaches
– Interactive discussion space for visitors
– Presentations, talks, and workshops throughout the Biennale
– Compilation of discussions in a special issue of ARCH+ magazine
Image Courtesy: archdaily.com