São Paulo Architecture Biennale 2013

The 10th São Paulo Architecture Biennale will be held from September 28th to November 24th, 2013, curated by Guilherme Wisnik, Ana Luiza Nobre and Ligia Nobre.

The theme of the X Bienal is “City: ways of making, ways of using”. The aim of the X Bienal is to raise awareness regarding the city and its numerous dimensions and scales, considering how its construction and design are produced, as well as the various ways its inhabitants use and appropriate it.

The general organization of the event is the responsibility of the Instituto de Arquitetos do Brasil - Departamento São Paulo (IAB-SP) (Institute of Architects of Brazil, Sao Paulo Department); and the executive production is realized by Arte3.

With the title “City: ways of making, ways of using”, the X Bienal de Arquitetura de São Paulo offers a reflection on the complex dynamics that build, destroy and rebuild the city day by day, articulating the planning and design fields – taking place in the “making” side – with the domain of “using”, which implies the critical and creative participation of the citizen. In which ways are we involved in the construction of public life and a desirable public sphere in urban space?

This theme proposes a conscious engagement in all our processes of building and using the cities, highlighting the collective responsibility of a fundamentally ethical nature implied by living in a society. What kind of urbanity do we want to create in a country that is developing in the midst of a global crisis? What models do we follow in a time when global paradigms are falling apart?

In its 10th edition, the São Paulo Architecture Biennale changes its format and concept. Instead of confining itself to a single building in Ibirapuera Park, it will be held at locations spread throughout the city. Reflecting on the contemporary city, the X Bienal incorporates the urban issue into its own spatial structure.

The selection of points composing the network followed two basic criteria: the quality of the spaces, in their architecture-use relationship; and their accessibility, that means, their connectivity with public transport system. Thus it will be possible to visit the entire exhibition via a multimodal system with the metro as its backbone, complemented by a bike-share system.

MVRDV Archtitects from the Netherlands participate in the biennial with their 'Vertical Village' and project 'Freeland'.

More information on the São Paulo Architecture Biennial 2013 (in Portuguese): http://www.iabsp.org.br

Read more about MVRDV's contribution to the architecture biennial: http://www.mvrdv. nl