The exhibition provides, for the first time in Austria, an insight into the working methods and philosophy of Mexican architect Tatiana Bilbao and and her eponymous office.

Tatiana Bilbao (b. 1972, Mexico City) researches and interprets the historical culture and building traditions of Mexico as well as each project's immediate context. The exhibition explores various dimensions of ‘landscape’, which give direction to the studio’s work — from natural or urban scapes to the 'inner landscape' of each individual building.

Tatiana Bilbao. Image © Anna Hop

Bilbao’s work is highly diverse and frequently produced in collaboration with other architects, landscape architects and artists: from a pilgrimage route in Mexico via botanical gardens in Culiacán, to housing developments. Her projects are driven by environmental and social thinking, but also by great poetry. 

As Tatiana Bilbao says: “When you come from a country where many people have very little in the way of economic resources, you are used to not wasting them.”

Residential house “Los Terrenos”, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico, 2012 – 2016. Image © Rory Gardiner

The exhibition presents large format installations both in the space and outdoors. A landscape of models spans the entire venue, which is lined by 'cabinets' filled with samples of raw materials, working models and sketches. 

Collages produced at Estudio Bilbao relating to various facets of the landscape are shown in a dialogue with exponents from the Architekturzentrum Wien Collection, selected from its 25 years of exhibition history.

Redensification "Territorio de Gigantes“, Aguascalientes, Mexiko, 2013 – 2018. Image © Rodrigo Chapa

Affordable housing “Housing +”, Chiapas, Mexiko, 2013 – 2015. Image © Tatiana Bilbao Estudio

Cortes Aquarium and Marine Research Centre, Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico, 2017. Image © Tatiana Bilbao Estudio

Social housing - a total of 16 housing units of 52 m2 each and a public space of 27,000m2 - in Acuña, Mexico, 2015. Image © Iwan Baan

Botanical Garden, Culiacan, Mexico, 2012. Image © Iwan Baan

The exhibition is a cooperation with the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Humlebæk, Denmark.

Exhibition facts

19.08.2021–17.01.2022, Exhibition hall 2
Press conference: Wed 18.08., 11:00, Dietmar Steiner Library
Opening: Wed 18.08., 19:00, Az W Podium
The press conference and opening will take place along the current Covid-19 measures!

Top image: Tatiana Bilbao's Holiday Dwelling in Monterrey, Los Terrenos, Mexico. Image © Rory Gardiner

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