Submitted by WA ContentsFinland Pavilion will explore architecture as a collaborative endeavor at Venice Biennale Finland Architecture News - Feb 18, 2025 - 15:37 html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"The Finland Pavilion has announced the theme and details about its exhibition at the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale, Italy.Curated by Ella Kaira and Matti Jnkl's, the exhibition, titled The Pavilion Architecture of Stewardship, will highlight the various types of labor that go into building and maintaining architecture, from the design contributions of engineers and architects to the work of construction workers, restoration architects, maintenance personnel, and cleaners, all of whom are essential to the development and maintenance of the built environment.At the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, curators Ella Kaira and Matti Jnkl will examine architecture as a collaborative endeavor by utilizing the famous architecture of Alvar and Elissa Aalto's Pavilion of Finland.The 19th International Architecture Exhibition will take place from 10 May to 23 November 2025 at the Giardini, the Arsenale and various venues in Venice, Italy. Curators Matti Jnkl and Ella Kaira at the Pavilion of Finland in Venice. Image Ugo Carmeni / ArchinfoThe Pavilion, built in Venices Giardini della Biennale Park in 1956, is one of only two buildings the legendary modernist Alvar Aalto and his office designed in Italy and the only one completed during his lifetime.The building carries a mythos that has undoubtedly bolstered its preservation but also obscures the many contributors to its ongoing existence. The Pavilion Architecture of Stewardship aspires to make the invisible visible by bringing the ongoing work on the Pavilion out of the shadow of Aaltos legacy.Pavilion of Finlands response to the theme IntelligensBy showcasing the continuous process of creation required to preserve the Pavilion, the exhibitionwhich was commissioned by Archinfo, the Information Centre for Finnish Architecturewill force us to reconsider how we relate to the built environment and the labor that goes into its building and maintenance."The Pavilion of Finland in the Giardini della Biennale has been celebrated internationally as one of the masterpieces of Finlands greatest architect, but this perspective has shifted in recent years. Over a period shorter than many peoples careers, scholarship has developed its recognition of the significant contribution made by Aaltos wives, Aino and Elissa, to his corpus of work. It is no longer accepted that he was a lone genius, creating in isolation," said Katarina Siltavuori, Director of Archinfo and Commissioner of the Pavilion of Finland."Kaira and Jnkls exhibition aims to further re-examine the process of authorship by broadening its enquiry to the myriad workers involved in the design, construction and maintenance of the built environment. As the 19th International Architecture Exhibition asks us to consider the nature of Intelligens, the Pavilion of Finlands investigation takes on a new significance: challenging widely-held assumptions about the nature of creativity and intelligence and revealing a broad and nuanced understanding that celebrates the work of individuals as part of collaborative systems," Siltavuori concluded.Valentina Albomico from Vita Restauri painting the pavilions facade as part of the regular maintenance work in 2025. Image Ella KairaStewardship and authorshipThe Pavilion Architecture of Stewardship explores who is responsible for maintaining the longevity of building, as well as why it is important. It traces the Pavilion's history from its creation through decades of constant upkeep and three significant restorations to the present, bringing to life the memories etched into the walls. The exhibition places the individuals involved in this work as co-creators alongside the original architect by bringing these stories to life in an audio-visual piece made by sound designer Jussi Hertz and video artist Merle Karp."The Pavilion of Finland is an architectural icon, but it wouldnt exist without the ongoing labour and care contributed by many workers throughout its life. Every architectural project has a story of intentions that unravelled on the journey from sketch to inhabited building. We think that the solutions these give rise to are as much a part of history as the intent of the original architect. Our exhibition seeks to ask whether architecture is fixed instruction or an ongoing collaboration and recognise the importance of a broad range of contributions to the authorship of buildings," said Curator Ella Kaira.Stewardship, an age-old practice based on responsibility and care, is essential to preserving constructed heritage. Stewardship, as it relates to architecture, is a shared responsibility between architects and non-architects that necessitates the negotiation of resources, land, and the built environment using both human and non-human action.The Finlandia sign being installed during the pavilions construction in 1956. Image Isa Andrenius / The National Archives of Finland"The Pavilion of Finland invites us to reflect on the concept of ephemerality in our built environment. The building was originally designed as a temporary structure, but it has become a permanent monument. However, today, many buildings that were designed to remain in place are demolished in under 50 years of age," saidCurator Matti Jnkl."The built environment is treated as a collection of pavilions characterised by ephemerality rather than heritage characterised by permanence. Our exhibition explores the stewardship of our built environment that enables its continued use from one generation to another," Jnkl added.Daniele Canato from Vita Restauri painting the pavilions facade in 2025. The cables of the Finlandia sign have been cut at the neighbouring construction site of the Central Pavilion. Helsinki-based architects Ella Kaira and Matti Jnkl are co-founders of the architectural firm Vokal. Jnkl promotes justice in urban planning and contemporary built heritage. Rather than building new, he is more interested in maintaining and fixing the built environment that already exists.Over time, Kaira's architectural focus has changed from designing buildings to restoring them, with a particular emphasis on strengthening community resilience.The top image in the article: Finland Pavilion Sept 2021. Image Miina Jutila Archinfo.> via Archinfo