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Georgia Tech at the Venice Biennale

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Professor Sung Hong Kim, a doctoral program alumnus, curates an exciting exhibition at the Korean Pavilion of the 2016 Venice Biennale.

The Korean Pavilion at the 2016 Venice Biennale focusses on the creative ways in which Korean architects respond to the accelerated growth of urban density in Korean cities. The exhibition “The FAR Game – Constraints Sparking Creativity” represents an exciting response to the general theme established by Venice Biennale curator Alejandro Aravena: “Reporting from the Front”. Aravena calls architects to reflect on the way in which they respond to pressing contemporary issues such as urbanization, climate change and social or ecological sustainability. The Korean Pavilion exhibition is curated by Sung Hong Kim, a professor of architecture and urbanism at the University of Seoul, and an alumnus of our doctoral program (1995). Kim and his team show that while responding to economic, real estate and demographic pressures within the constraints of zoning regulations, Korean architects have been able to create a new sense of spaciousness that not only enriches experience and comfort but also takes advantage of and responds to emergent forms of urbanism. While the “FAR (Floor Area Ratio) Game” is played according to external rules, it results in a sense of intrinsic cultural richness and in a great diversity of forms and of interpretations of program. At the core of the exhibition are 36 models of recent mid-sized buildings juxtaposed to 36 models of the theoretical solid dictated by zoning for the particular plots. Consistent diagrams are used to explain how architects have departed from the prescribed volume in subtle ways to benefit those using the buildings and to add value to the designs.  The exhibition catalogue includes essays by two Georgia Tech professors. Marc Simmons, Thomas W. Ventulett III distinguished Chair of Architectural Design, contributes the paper “Simple Math: Envelop Economics and the FAR Game”. John Peponis, working with doctoral students Chen Feng and James Park contributes the paper “The City as an Interface of Scales: Gangnam Urbanism”. At Professor Kim’s invitation, Professor Peponis also acts as the counselor for the overall endeavor. The Venice Biennale is open to the public from May 28 to November 27, 2016.

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  • Workflow Status:Published
  • Created By:Tia Jewell
  • Created:05/13/2016
  • Modified By:Fletcher Moore
  • Modified:05/26/2022

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