Russia wins a special mention at the 17th Venice Architecture Biennale

The Russian Federation Pavilion at the Venice Gardens, interior view; photo © Riccardo Bianchini / Inexhibit.

The completely renovated Russian pavilion wins a special mention at the 17th Venice Architecture Biennale

The Russian exhibition is certainly one of the most unconventional on view at the 17th Venice Architecture Biennale.
Instead of filling it with an exhibition, Russia transformed its almost empty pavilion into an exhibition in itself. Indeed, the 17th edition of the Biennale of Architecture has been the occasion to present the ambitious renovation that has restored the building, completed in 1914 and originally designed by architect Alexey Schusev, to its original splendor and, at the same time, has updated it to fulfill current exhibition standards.

Developed by KASA – Kovaleva and Sato Architects, the renovation project included the reopening of many of the pavilion’s windows and doors, which had been closed over time, reinstated the original colors and finishes, created an additional gallery and a hi-tech experimental space on the ground floor, transformed the north room into a double-height space for large-scale installations, and improved accessibility and circulation.

As mentioned earlier, at the 2021 Biennale, the renovated Russian pavilion has been left almost empty and accommodates only an interactive installation on digital gaming on the ground floor, entitled The Gamer, and a book featuring twenty-eight texts commissioned to Russian and international designers and thinkers.

The Russian Federation pavilion has been awarded a special mention as National Participation by the jury of the 17th Venice Architecture Biennale.

The skylight-lit gallery on the upper floor has been restored to its original colors and finishes; photo © Riccardo Bianchini / Inexhibit.

The double-height north room of the Russian pavilion is suitable for displaying large-scale artworks and installations; photo © Riccardo Bianchini / Inexhibit.

An additional gallery has been opened on the ground floor just under the pavilion’s terrace; photo © Riccardo Bianchini / Inexhibit.

The new experimental space on the Russian Pavilion’s ground floor; photo © Riccardo Bianchini / Inexhibit.

Open!
The Russian Federation Pavilion
Commissioner: Teresa Iarocci Mavica
Curator: Ippolito Pestellini Laparelli
Exhibitors: KASA (Kovaleva and Sato Architects), Mikhail Maximov, Lion & Unicorn, Ilia Mazo, Yuliya Kozhemyako, Electric Red, Pavel Milyakov aka Buttechno, Vladimir Rannev