brazilian pavilion at the 2012 biennale

brazil pavilion curated by lauro cavalcanti at the 2012 venice architecture biennale image © designboom

the brazil pavilion for the 2012 architecture biennale in venice, curated by lauro cavalcanti, features two distinct architects: urbanist lucio costa who is responsible for the conception of brasilia in 1960 and the ideology of brazilian modernism, and film director and architect marcio kogan of studio mk27, who is considered to create some of brazil’s most iconic contemporary houses. the first room displays a technically exhaustive look into several projects realized by the two participants, followed by two opposing halls exhibiting their unique installations in an interesting juxtaposition of past and present.

‘peep show’ hall image © designboom

small holes protrude from the black volume letting the viewer ‘peep’ into the private lives in the V4 house image © designboom

view into peephole image © designboom

clips of life in the V4 house are revealed image © designboom

studio mk27 created a voyeuristic installation featuring the ‘V4 house’ and its inhabitants. filmed by 16 cameras, ‘peep’ shows a series of video sketches that express the qualitative characteristics of the physical building, the life that happens inside, and the often forgotten processes that maintain a house that altogether define its architecture. 

gabriel kogan explains:

‘the emotions and sensations provoked in us by each space can only be perceived through experience in the space itself. the light, the size of volumes and the presence of bodies cannot be reproduced. architecture, however, can only be represented by itself, in its fleeting state, existing only in the present, at the moment when we are walking through the building. what we are left with are memories that build a new interior and slightly linear space that is cut in pieces.

this installation is the recognition of the infeasibility depicting architecture and a suggestion that we speak of it using pieces of memory. an ordinary and made-up memory, a memory that is at the same time collective and anonymous, harking back to brief sensations and recalling atmospheres at any time.’

‘peep’ film by marcio kogan of studio mk27

frame from ‘peep’ image © studio mk27

image © studio mk27

image © studio mk27

image © studio mk27

image © studio mk27

opposing the ‘peep’ show is an open room with hammocks suspended from the ceiling and classical guitars spread throughout the space. a homage to lucio costa, ‘riposatevi’ reminds us that repose and free time are equally as important as the time spent in an office, as a revisit to brazil’s 1964 milan triennale pavilion dedicated to ‘leisure.’ the many colorful canvas beds simply invite visitors to lie down and relax.

in lucio costa’s words:

‘the same people who rest in hammocks can, whenever necessary, build a new capital in three years’ time.’

‘riposatevi’ installation with colorful hammocks and guitars image © designboom

image © designboom

(left) studio mk27 owner and architect marcio kogan (right) curator lauro cavalcanti image © designboom

back entrance to pavilion image © designboom

large concrete section splits the pavilion into two areas, while maintaining large open spaces image © designboom