The Luxembourg Pavilion for the 2012 Venice Biennale, entitled Futura Bold? Post-City: Considering the Luxembourg case, is a speculative exploration of the future issues that cities of the 21st century will be facing. Using Luxembourg as a case study, Post-City seeks an attitude toward the forces of the urban environment instead of concluding with an urban proposal. Post-City poses pertinent questions that arise from Luxembourg’s urban conditions today. Posed as a platform for discussion, the pavilion will be on view at the Ca’ del Duca as part of the 2012 Venice Biennale until November 25th.
Join us after the break for more on this project.
Post-City assesses Luxembourg through an subjective lens. Taking five specific environments within that city, chosen by their relevance to the urban scenes of the city, the team selected Belval, Berchem, Ingeldorf, Kirchberg and Schengen as areas that are to be connected by the proposed Post-City.
The result is an accumulation of superimposed infrastructure and a collage of existing and fictional urban experiences and situations. In short, it is a realm of possibilities overlaid to produce opportunities for connection, opportunities to visualize density and concentration, and opportunities to assess the potential successes and failures of such strategies. Post-City leaves a very specific undefined zone in the midst of the urban fabric. This triangular piece is intentionally left blank to accommodate all other potential possibilities.
The proposal takes on seven situations ranging from the flow of traffic and coordination of infrastructural systems to divisions of food production and agriculture. It proposes a system of industry that feeds off of innovation from universities’ research and fresh ideas in a way that follows industry into the trend of globalization while keeping it rooted into local development. A variation of low and high densities give opportunities for different types of activities and developments.
Mid-size and mixed-use concentrations define public and private spaces that are accessible and active. The natural landscape is incorporated on the outskirts of the development with a forest just outside of the city. A radial street grid defines the residential area with different types of dwelling units that can accommodate a range of people and has opportunities for mixed use development.
The presentation for Post-City consists of a plaster model installation, artwork and illustrations, and a book that is published specifically for this project. The book is an introduction to, a guide for and a reflection of the exhibit, assembled to invite additional discussions that may arise as a result of the exhibition.
Exhibitors: Yi-der Chou, Radim Louda, Philippe Nathan Commissioner: Fondation de l’Architecture et de l’Ingénierie, Luxembourg Represented by: Christian Bauer, Tatiana Fabeck, Mathias Fritsch, Stefano Moreno, Andrea Rumpf Supported by: Ministry of Culture, Luxembourg
Coordination in Venice: Caterina De Cesero / Galleria Upp Plaster models and installation: Werkplaats Vincent de Rijk, Rotterdam Prefalux, Junglinster Graphic design: Manuela Dechamps Otamendi, Brussels Illustrations: Eva Le Roi, Brussels Photography: Maxime Delvaux, 354photographers, Brussels
