Venice Biennale 2023 - Vistosi

Architecture Biennale 2023: Highlights by Vistosi. Experience it through our eyes!

The latest edition of the Architecture Biennale 2023, the 18th, recently concluded with a significant number of attendees, totaling 285,000, making it the second most attended Architecture Biennale ever.

This important edition was made possible with the support of key partners such as Rolex and sponsors like Bloomberg Philanthropies, Vela – Venezia Unica, Zafferano, and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP.

The exhibition, titled “The Laboratory of the Future” curated by Lesley Lokko, took place in various locations including the Giardini, the Arsenale, and Forte Marghera from May 20th to November 26th, 2023, offering an insightful view into the latest innovations, trends, and reflections in contemporary architecture.

The exhibition was conceived by the Curator to be the first Architecture Exhibition where the spotlight was on Africa and its diaspora, on that culture defined by the Curator as “fluid and intertwined with people of African origin who today embrace the world”, focusing on themes of decolonization and decarbonization.

Lesley Lokko emphasized the central role of imagination in building a better world, emphasizing the importance of conceiving new visions before they can be realized. In this context, “The Laboratory of the Future” provided a provocative and inspiring look at future ways of seeing and interacting with the world through architecture.

Our journey led us to meet the atelier oï studio, which has been collaborating with us for years.

Designers of the Essence collection but also designers of the Vistosi Virtual Museum, the wonderful stand at the 2023 Euroluce edition, and the Novelties Pavilion in our virtual headquarters in Murano.

For the Architecture Biennale 2023, the studio had the honor of designing the scenography of the Pavilion for one of their longest-standing partners, a prestigious watch brand that has also been supporting the International Architecture Exhibition since 2014, demonstrating a strong commitment to contemporary architecture and the transmission of knowledge.

Inside the Pavilion designed by atelier oï, a long workbench displays iconic architectural elements of boutiques and watchmaking spaces. Made with a variety of materials such as wood, blown and cast glass, marble, travertine, and stucco, these elements pay homage to the extraordinary craftsmen who have been collaborating with the Swiss brand for decades, using their skills and craftsmanship to create and perfect techniques of exceptional quality.

Architectural motifs inspired by the Maison’s iconic codes, including the fluted bezel and the characteristic green hue of cast glass, are displayed on the table and accompanied by a video explanation of the application and manufacturing process.

The space is designed to showcase the dynamic relationship between different scales. For example, the watch motif has been reimagined and transformed into a larger architectural element, and the lighting fixtures, designed for the showrooms of this prestigious partner, are conceived to recall the lines of the magnifying cyclops, a feature present on the watches.

Dedicated screens show scenes of craftsmanship, celebrating the indispensable work of these experts and emphasizing the importance of transmitting their knowledge. The philosophy of atelier oï is based on constant research of materials and the possibilities of transformation as an insatiable source of inspiration.

During our visit, we aimed to capture the best content for those who couldn’t attend. We’ve put together a video highlighting the pavilions with the most notable projects and exhibitions. Keep an eye out because you might just spot Vistosi!