solano benítez wins golden lion for best participant at the venice architecture biennale

the central pavilion at the venice architecture biennale giardini welcomes visitors with a huge masonry arch erected by paraguayan architect solano benítez. awarded the golden lion for best participant, the installation centers its attention on ‘working with two of the most easily available materials—bricks and unqualified labor— as a way to transform scarcity into abundance.’ the architect together with his studio, gabinete de arquitectura, created an arched structure from a material that is present everywhere and turning it into something aesthetically pleasing that can be built even by the unqualified.

after giving the award, the jury stated that the project stood out for ‘harnessing simple materials, structural ingenuity and unskilled labour to bring architecture to underserved communities.’

the installation focuses on working with the two most easily available materials: bricks and unqualified labor
image © designboom (also main image)

gracefully illuminated and casting shadows on the floor, the sumptuous arch sits on a wooden structure that allows the visitors to go around it. made from different bent sections, mortar is used to secure the bricks together, resulting in ‘x’ patterns that flow along the structure. the installation exhibits not only common materials together but a simpleness that contrasts with its imposing nature.

the aim is to show how scarcity can be transformed into abundance
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the arched structure is erected from different bent sections
image © designboom

the masonry arch stands at the entrance of the giardini’s central pavilion
image © designboom

the dramatically illuminated arch casts shadows both on the floor and walls
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on the walls, visitors can appreciate the construction process
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the arch sits on a wooden structure
image © designboom

mortar is used to secure the bricks together
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section of the arch
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‘x’ patterns flow along 
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general installation view
image © designboom

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