Architect 2014-07.pdf

Where
concrete and
imagination
meet.
CENTER
Denver Union Station, Denver, CO
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over to a strangely rote presentation of
building components like elevators, stairs,
and fireplaces. “It was like an industry expo,”
snarked one visitor.
On the other hand, the Biennale’s
overlords did not err when it came time to
dole out the honorary Lions. Winning the gold
was the Korean Pavilion, which showcased a
riveting series of videos and images exploring
the vexed relationship between North and
South, in particular the quasi-hidden history
of urbanism and building in the autocratic
Hermit Kingdom. And the Chilean Pavilion
walked away with a well-deserved silver: For
a look back at the country’s troubled past, the
organizers carted in a thick concrete wall,
originally built as part of a Soviet-backed
social housing program created by the socialist
Allende government. Production team member
José Hernandez showed where the “o” was still
visible from the signature Salvador Allende
had scrawled on it more than 40 years ago,
and explained the challenges in moving the
The Koolhaas-curated
“Monditalia” exhibition
in the Arsenale is a
collaboration between
architecture and Venice’s
other biennales, for dance,
music, theater, and film.
SERGIO PIRRONE