When Niklas Bildstein Zaar discovered that his architecture studio, Sub, was selected to design the main exhibition at this year’s Venice Architecture Biennale, he knew it was an unconventional choice. Over the past decade, his Berlin-based firm has garnered a reputation for creating intricate stage designs for artists such as Travis Scott and Ye, as well as for the high-profile fashion shows of Balenciaga.
The firm has been instrumental in shaping a stark, postindustrial aesthetic that’s become widespread on digital platforms: a mix of apocalyptic and sleek elements, characterized by dark hues and abundant concrete. “Our palette emerged from realms where some form of counterculture had taken root,” Bildstein Zaar explained in an interview. “We’re working with materials that embody a certain attitude.”
During a recent tour of the firm’s studio located in Berlin’s Tiergarten district, the decor was a somber mix of gothic and cutting-edge elements. Paintings in deep blacks and grays adorned the walls, while a menacing rubber mask served as an unusual decorative piece. In Bildstein Zaar’s personal office, a sculpture of a Grim Reaper-like figure loomed in one corner, adding to the studio’s distinct atmosphere.
For the Venice project, Sub must adapt its design approach to suit a more subdued environment. The Biennale, opening on May 10, stands as the world’s most esteemed architecture exhibition. Bildstein Zaar expressed hopes that his firm’s background in fashion and art would attract a new type of audience to the event. “If it managed to dress itself slightly differently,” he speculated, “it could reach a much broader audience.”
Like its art counterpart held last year, the Venice Architecture Biennale includes a grand central exhibition alongside individual pavilions organized by participating countries. For the central showcase, Sub has crafted a system to display the curated exhibits and to guide visitors seamlessly through the exhibition space.
Yorum Yap