maloco collective proposes ping pong diplomacy installation at venice biennale

connecting the spanish, belgian and dutch pavilions through a path of five multicolored ping pong tables, maloco collective’s ping pong pang diplomacy brings people of all ages and origin together, celebrating exchange, cross-pollination and architecture. the proposal addresses the open call request for a temporary installation at the 16th international architecture biennale in venice to create a physical dialogue between venues and a metaphorical dialogue between nations.

axonometric view of the installation stretching across the three pavilions

maloco collective proposes a main linear path that leads visitors from one pavilion to the other through ping pong trials along with a great three-sided, tri-national ping pong table. in order to move along the path, one has to measure him/herself up with another person offering a chance for different people to gather and get to know one another through a challenge.

view of the ping pong tables

the three-sided, tri-national ping pong table is the ultimate trial and object of interaction, symbolizing collaboration, sharing and knowledge across borders. it becomes a diplomatic device by not presupposing any transcendental figure, acting as an iconic piece to highlight the pavilions’ presence and as a social catalyst and activator of collective interaction through movement, playfulness and fun, crossing all ages and nationalities.

plan of the path and tri-national ping pong table

the installation takes its cues from ping pong diplomacy, a communication channel established during the 1970’s between the people’s republic of china and the USA, who did not have diplomatic relations beforehand. during that time, people from the two countries met around actual ping pong tables, rather than traditional negotiating tables. acting as diplomatic devices that enable communication between different parties with nothing in common, the ping pong tables offer a space for games, talks and events during the biennale.

concept diagrams

view of the ping pong path

project info:

architecture studio: maloco collective

team: margono hadiprodjo, lorenzo mattozzi, cosimo scotucci

location: venice, biennale’s giardini

status: proposal

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.