12th International Architecture Biennial promotes reflection on everyday life

For those arriving at Rua 24 de Maio – the address of Sesc, which hosts the 12th São Paulo International Architecture Biennial – there is nothing that indicates in a grandiose or imposing way that, just ahead, one of the most important architecture exhibitions in the country is taking place. Nothing seems to stand out from the surroundings; the communication is made by means of a prosaic windsock connected to a fan that moves randomly. The resource is the same used by the various local retail chains that seek to capture the attention of pedestrians. Nothing more appropriate given that the exhibition seeks to reflect on the power of everyday life and the most trivial dimension of reality in architecture and urbanism during this period.

Facade of Sesc 24 de Maio, a building designed by Paulo Mendes da Rocha and MMBB Arquitetura, one of the venues for the 12th São Paulo International Architecture Biennial.

Conceived by the Brazilian Institute of Architects in São Paulo, the 12th BIA SP was curated by architects Charlotte Malterre-Barthes, Ciro Miguel and Vanessa Grossman. The trio won the curatorial competition promoted by the IAB in São Paulo. “The discreet power of everyday life lies in its ability to translate the way we inhabit, use natural resources and maintain space into common practices that make the project relevant,” say the curators.

New Republic, installation by Hálio Menezes and Wolff Architects.

The exhibition features multidisciplinary and multimedia works and is structured around three thematic axes: Stories of everyday life - examines the countless ways in which architects and other related professionals reinterpret everyday life, telling real or fictional stories linked to the production of space, ranging from poetic subtleties to the revelation of violence, such as crises and inequalities that affect individuals in their daily lives. Everyday materials - this is the axis that speaks of sustainability, addresses the growing awareness and critical engagement of architects, landscapers and urban planners in relation to different processes involving everyday resources, both in urban and rural contexts, in the Anthropocene era (terms used to express the most recent period in the history of planet Earth.) Daily maintenance - explores the maintenance of architecture and the city. The subject has been gaining increasing attention, especially in theoretical debates and current technological research, but it is still insufficiently incorporated into architectural production.

According to the curators, two buildings that are a manifestation of everyday life in the city of São Paulo were chosen to house the 12th BIA SP. For the exhibition at Sesc 24 de Maio (designed by Paulo Mendes da Rocha and MMBB), 10 selected architects and collectives created interventions in the space. The projects occupy the common areas of the building, such as ramps, stairs, corridors, common areas and swimming pool.

At the São Paulo Cultural Center (designed by Eurico Prado Lopes and Luiz Telles in 1982), there are projects and experiments of various formats and scales that attempt to reimagine how everyday life shapes our world. The 74 selected works were part of an open call with 710 entries from 52 cities in Brazil and 101 cities in 30 other countries. The expography project for both units was developed by the duo from Metro Arquitetos Associados. Service 12th BIA SP - Sesc May 24th Until September 29, 2019 24th of May Street, 109, Downtown, Sao Paulo 12th BIA SP: Sao Paulo Cultural Center – CCSP Until December 8, 2019 01504-000