At the Venice Architecture Biennale titled The Laboratory of the Future which is held in Venice, Italy from the 20th May and is open until the 26th November 2023 with preopening that was on the 18th and 19th May, are shown exhibitions from 89 countries in 6 different programme parts.

Architect Emina Čamdžić, WAC Bosnia And Herzegovina Country Reporter has attended the 18th Venice Biennale International Architecture Exhibition online and is following the whole online programme of the Biennale. Architect Emina Čamdžić is closely following from the 18th to the 19th May 2023 and opening of the exhibitions online.

The carbon neutrality and sustainability of the environment are the questions raised.

As the organizers themselves have stated, La Biennale di Venezia has achieved an international standard PAS2060 carbon neutrality certification for all events and is concretely working towards the goal of fighting climate change and promotion of a more sustainable model for all parts of the events such as design, installation and operation. 

The Venice Architecture Biennale has introduced environmental sustainability of its events as integrated part of the life cycle of the events.

Image © Andrea Avezzu, courtesy of La Biennale di Venezia

The goal and aspiration of the Venice Architecture Biennale is to decrease the carbon footprint of the mobility of visitors, environmental sustainability of events and through communication campaign wants to raise awareness on the carbon emissions and achieving carbon neutrality. The organizers stated that the main actions that were taken for the exhibitions include using energy from renewable sources, reduction of materials usage and recycling promotion as measures that produce instant results with use in long term. It is further mentioned that during this year's Venice Architecture Biennale, emphasize is placed on gender balance of the participants.

During the online presentation of the opening of the 18th International Architecture Exhibition, the curator Lesley Lokko stated that from the 89 participants "over half of whom are from Africa or the African Diaspora", and further mentioned the carbon footprint and cost of the exhibitions. "Over the past nine months, in hundreds of conversations, text messages, Zoom calls and meetings, the question of whether exhibitions of this scale — both in terms of carbon and cost — are justified, has surfaced time and again," Lokko continued.

During the online presentation, Roberto Cicutto, the president of the Venice Biennale, mentioned Africa, energy procurement and infrastructure in his speech: "So why don’t we learn what Africa has to say on the cultural level as well, the result of experiences, as Lesley Lokko tells us, that have anticipated critical issues that now concern the more developed world as well? … This change of perspective as we come to know a continent that is demographically the youngest on earth, and that for many countries has become a partner of equal standing for economic agreements regarding energy procurement or infrastructural investments, carries with it a significant revolution."

It's important that through and during the Biennale the reduction of climate change and its impacts is introduced, therefore to stop climate change effects.

There is plenty of time to visit the exhibitions of the 18th Architecture Exhibition, so for those who haven't seen it yet visit the online or physical exhibitions in Venice at the Venice Biennale.

Read more about WAC's coverage about the biennale pavilions on Venice Architecture Biennale 2023. To see more pavilions from this year's biennale, you can also visit WAC's Instagram/Reels for exclusive videos.

Top image in front of the Venice Biennale Building. Image © Andrea Avezzu, courtesy of La Biennale di Venezia. 

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