MVRDV + the why factory present freeland at venice biennale 2012

MVRDV + the why factory present freeland at venice biennale 2012 all images courtesy of MVRDV

rotterdam-based MVRDV and their branch the why factory will present ‘freeland’ at the upcoming venice biennale. the liberated urban planning proposal for the city of almere which will be introduced with an animated documentary projected with surround video. viewers will be transported to the town, integrating bottom up developmental ideals with a series of narratives of success, failure and surprise. imagining a self-organized city, the design challenges the prevalently practiced classical centralized planning. allowing for organic growth to stimulate neighborhoods configured by inhabitants with green spaces, agriculture, infrastructure, chosen supplies of energy as well as water and waste management.

alongside the presentation, the EU CITY program will exhibit ‘porous city’, a display of 767 towers made from LEGOs at 1:1000 scale conceived by the why factory. the collection represents the european forum for architectural policies’ (EFAP) suggestion of architecture as a cultural common ground for cultural expression, injecting david chipperfield‘s theme for the biennale.

site plan of freeland

freeland densification

freeland expansion

freeland

welcome to freeland, land castle, autarkic plot, collective plot

welcome to freeland

land castle

autarkic plot

collective plot

porous city

porous city

rows of 767 LEGO towers

the 13th international architecture biennale is curated by london-based architect david chipperfield. the theme of the event is entitled ‘common ground’ and will run from 29th of august through 25th november 2012, in venice, italy.