HFT Stuttgart takes part in the Architecture Biennale in Venice

In the workshop, students from HFT Stuttgart, the University of San Marino, the University of Venice and Ca' Foscari University worked together on the project theme. The results are accessible to the visitors in the pavilion of the Republic of San Marino, they are thus an official part of the Architecture Biennale 2023 and already led to ambitious discussions with visitors on the first day.

The academic guides of the working groups were Prof. Diane Ziegler, Prof. Ralf Petersen, Prof. Riccardo Varini, Prof. Francesca Salatin (UIAV), Andrea Cero (Studio Miquadra), Prof. Stefano Luca (University of San Marino and UIAV).

The results and the participation in the Biennale bring valuable professional and personal experiences, as well as exceptional options for the portfolios of our students.

Text: Prof. Ralf Petersen & Prof. Diane Ziegler

The students in the International Master of Interior-Architectural Design (IMIAD) programme conducted material research for a resource-conscious use of materials in preparation for the workshop, supervised by Prof. Ziegler and Dipl.-Des. Melissa Acker, and summarized the results on posters. The findings from this were incorporated into the design proposals for San Giorgio. For example, the proposed designs build on materials that are renewable or have a high recycled content (re-use) - Myzelium, Corten Steel, Hempcrete (hemp lime), Laterite Stone, Clay, Bamboo and Cork. The research is part of the design workshop. The task for San Giorgio was described by the Fondazione Cini, by Francesca Salatin, Riccardo Varini and a guest, Giulia, who could never see herself and therefore could give an authentic account of other forms of perception. The students were able to collect individual impressions during a walk around the island and derive different priorities from them. All suggestions focus on (different) sensory limitations of "disabled people".

Limitations should be compensated by other senses. For this purpose, visual, acoustic or haptic impressions are amplified and thus the available senses are sharpened. However, all suggestions are also conceived, thought of and designed in such a way that they can not only be used by people without disabilities, but that they absolutely want to use them - because they are so attractive! The authors deliberately appeal to the individual's play instinct, offering cool shaded areas, invisible sound installations, concentrated-extracted sounds and noises of the lagoon (water, wind, trees, voices, footsteps on stony paths), etc.

All concepts have names. They are called:

Sound Pathways (Italian group)
Acoustic orientation in the terrain Invisible, without auxiliary constructions, suspended, terrain deformations

Mapyrinth
Walkable map of San Giorgio, haptic experience/exploration San Giorgio
According to Giulia's information, "... before I visit a new place, I inform myself ..."

Floating Entrance
Floating Pier and Gate, visible, orientation, significant - on the island (recurring motif with sound info) and of San Marco, material: Floating Blocks (see Christo)

Whispering Passage
Pavilions with acoustically self-sufficient rooms/rooms isolated from the natural sound mix with pipes listening into the island

Sound Skin
Wrapped trees, trees and groups of trees wrapped in foils, the foils are mirrored on one side (outside) and transparent only from the inside - the visitor can see into the environment without being seen. Purposefully positioned fields in the foil surface can be opened to let sounds in - like momentarily covering an ear with your hand

The Arch
Myzelium Gate made of mushroom mesh that articulates all major access points

Sensorial Respite
Shaded plazas/seating objects as tree discs/around tree trunks, plan form derived from areas between existing paths across the island

Floral Grooves
Bamboo canopy/shade at Teatro Verde

sit & learn (sit & experience)
seating modules + info stele, round, semicircular, serpentine, freely combined, flat, high, sit, stand, information, recognizability

We thank the Knödler-Decker Foundation for their kind support of the project.