UQ architecture on international stage at Venice Biennale

The University of Queensland will have a huge presence at the world’s most prestigious architectural showcase, constructing a full-scale building onsite.

A model of the original Wall House in India, will be built on a 1-1 scale inside the Venice Biennale of both authentic and new elements such as terracotta interlocking tubes, filler slabs and recycled materials.

The installation will be constructed by UQ staff and masters students, Italian students and Indian tradespeople within the exhibition space.

Dr Anupama Kundoo senior lecturer in Architecture at UQ says the event is an exciting opportunity to share a common enthusiasm and passion for architecture with people from around the world.

“In all these years of teaching architecture I have felt a real lack of opportunities for students, not only in being present at sites where architecture is produced but also in the way they don’t get to confront materials at all,” she said.

“I am really excited to be able to enable students to witness something being made at the biennale.”

The Wall House addresses globally-relevant solutions to housing situations using low-tech sustainable building materials and traditional labour techniques with advanced architectural and engineering concepts.

UQ School of Architecture head John Macarthur said that it was a “great honour” that Dr Kundoo’s work had been chosen for exhibition by the Biennale’s director British architect David Chipperfield.

Every second year, 50 or so exhibitors are invited to the Venice Biennale, to demonstrate the pinnacle of international architecture, this year with a theme of Common Ground.

The UQ School of Architecture is currently seeking sponsorship support, as they head to the biennale.

If your organisation is interested in partnering with two globally-recognised brands in UQ and the Venice Biennale, as well as the opportunity to work with the pioneering Dr Kundoo, please contact Jonathan Cosgrove, Director of Advancement, on j.cosgrove@uq.edu.au or +61 (7) 3365 4302.
UQ Centre Stage At Venice Biennale from The University of Queensland on Vimeo.