#ThisIsACo-op ΤΟ ΣΥΛΛΟΓΙΚΟ ΙΧΝΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΦΕΤΙΝΗΣ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗΣ ΣΥΜΜΕΤΟΧΗΣ ΣΤΗΝ 15η ΔΙΕΘΝΗ ΕΚΘΕΣΗ ΑΡΧΙΤΕΚΤΟΝΙΚΗΣ - LA BIENNALE DI VENEZIA

The Greek Pavilion in the 15th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia, running 28 May through 27 November 2016, has been assigned to the Association of Greek Architects – Greek Union of Architects (SADAS – PEA). The Association is organizing an exhibition as well as a series of architecture-related events under the title #ThisIsACo-op.

Titled Reporting from the Front and curated by the Chilean architect Alejandro Aravena, the exhibition has a social and political outlook, exploring the architect’s role in the quest to improve living conditions.

#ThisIsACo-op responds to the challenge of this year Architecture Biennale’s theme by highlighting the importance of collaboration, of joining forces, as an essential political proposition in order to deal with the multi-sided current crisis. Moreover, it investigates, processes and displays the multiple fronts of the crisis – the refugee crisis, the urban crisis, the defeat of the right to housing, the crisis hitting the architectural profession – all interdependent manifestations of the strategy for the depreciation of space as a common good.

This gesture is a collaborative experiment, an innovative, fresh exhibition proposal, an open, bottom-up workshop. A cooperative network was established and undertakes the implementation of all aspects of the Greek participation, which, in addition to the exhibition, includes a series of participatory workshops and site-specific events.

The Greek Pavilion becomes a place for dialogue and action. Its space is hosting discussions, encounters and events in an amphitheatrical structure that serves as a receptacle of dialogue and a symbol of participation and community. This will also serve as a reading room and a space for projections.

The Greek Pavilion is a natural meeting place for architects, Associations, social movements and socially-minded individuals from Greece and the international community seeking solutions to the common fronts engendered by the crisis. It provides a space for mobilizing collective architectural bodies, locally and internationally, as well as a place for developing claims and coordinating actions towards new participatory, democratic decision-making processes for the management of space and culture.

The events will be organized across a tripartite structure: Syneleusis (assembly) – Synergeia – Symbiosis. In addition the Greek participation will include a series of events in the city of Venice and in various parts of Greece which will be broadcasted in the pavilion. These events will be spread across the duration of the 15th Exhibition.

Meanwhile, #ThisIsACo-op is a location for assembling existing archival material and collecting new resources. The Greek Pavilion constitutes an evolving research apparatus, a dynamic archive for displaying theoretical investigations, architectural proposals and research material by groups and collectives on how to cope with the crisis.

The curatorial team aspires to make an impact through a series of discussions, meetings, workshops and proposals, inviting the international architectural community and the public to be actively involved and collaborate.