sauerbruch hutton's venice biennale installation combines solid timber with a translucent pattern

at the venice biennale, sauerbruch hutton creates an installation that condenses the architectural themes of the studio’s recently completed M9 museum district in venice’s mestre area. ‘oxymoron’ is a small space enclosed by a timber framework featuring an opaque lower part, and an upper section with a pattern of colored weaves that contrasts the strict geometry of the frame and radiates a seductive glow.

all images by jan bitter

part of the FREESPACE exhibition at the biennale’s arsenale venue, the installation showcases how sauerbruch hutton‘s M9 incorporates the theme of free space, where it creates as a liminal zone between the public and the private spheres, offering itself for occupation. inside oxymoron, the colored pattern seems to ‘explode’ the physical confines while large black and white photographs on the lower part appear to expand the space. in a similar way, the spaces of M9 are informed through their material and chromatic presence, actively engaging the visitor in a play between visual perception and haptic reality.

Installation oxymoron by Sauerbruch Hutton (c) Jan Bitter

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: sofia lekka angelopoulou | designboom

designboom’s coverage of the 2018 venice architecture biennale is in partnership with leading energy company edison. edison is taking part in the 16th international architecture exhibition of la biennale di venezia by initiating a path towards sustainability and the efficient use of resources. the collaboration between edison and la biennale is based on awareness that energy is one of the fundamental elements of architecture and of the places, spaces and cities of contemporary life.