This year’s Architecture Biennale of Venice goes under the theme “How we will live together?” The question concerns not only this year’s Biennale but all our considerations about deteriorating climate, numerous ongoing conflicts and natural disasters that many of us have experienced, including in Europe this summer. The Biennale is vastly extending the term „architecture“ and defines it as a vital contribution to our natural, built and social environment. Architecture as one way of changing our environment is also affecting our social life. As this year’s Biennale is underlining the togetherness, it presents ideas which are relevant for local communities, for example for relations between different ethnicities in one region or state, or even beyond state borders.
The effects of climate change
On my second day of my visit to the Biennale was particularly memorable for the abundance of information about the rise in global temperatures. A graph published in the Financial Times showed that record high temperatures have been recently registered in 180 out of 200 locations monitored around the globe. Another article suggested that “[t]he deadly weather that has unfolded in recent weeks has left climate scientists ‘shocked’ and concerned that extreme events are arriving faster than models predicted.”
In the New York Times of the same day one could read: “Yes, it is getting hotter. And while you might be able to escape the intensifying tropical storms, flooding or droughts by moving elsewhere, refuge from extreme heat is no longer easy to find.” Also in this case the arguments are supported by figures which show that “human-induced climate change has drastically increased warm-season temperatures”.
These trends, which were predicted many years ago, are the basis and frame of this year’s Biennale. It argues that we must recognize that we live in “one world” and that we must act as a community if we want to reduce the number of climate disasters and of cases of forced mobility due to droughts and/or floods. Nature - also in its changed conditions due to human activities (Anthropocene) - must be taken seriously and be part of planning for a more sustainable future. This approach must be respected by planning the small units, the larger areas and the world at large. Hashim Sarkis, one of the experts and curator of the Biennale, wrote in a Foreword to a book accompanying the exhibitions: ”Inside the smallest of urban spaces one can find a way of connecting to the entire world.”
For example, we have to realize that it is not enough to simply add open green spaces to buildings. They must be an integral part of any conception of local communities, continents and the world at large. Social issues should not be “left” to social workers but taken into account by architects. When it comes to laying the ground for a successful togetherness for peoples of different origins and beliefs, architects should be involved and come forward with practical ideas.
Producing homes instead of refugees and poverty
Fortunately, the main message of the Biennale also addresses social cleavages. As socially underprivileged classes are the first and foremost victims of climate change – for example, they can be impacted by conflicts over resources, like water - they must not be neglected. It is well known that water shortages were one of the root causes leading to the war in Syria. The dispute about a dam to be built in Ethiopia may trigger conflicts with Egypt and/or Sudan.
Certainly, many of the disasters caused by environmental degradation force many to flee their homes. Housing and living conditions of refugees are critically analyzed and the right of decent housing for all is underlined by this year’s Biennale. Unfortunately, this will not prevent wars as such. But the general recognition of housing rights also for refugees may be a strong incentive for the international community to put more pressure on political actors to invest more into conflict prevention and resolution.
We should always remember one of the slogans of the Beirut demonstrations in 2019: “We want bread, knowledge, and theater.” If governments respected these needs, many conflicts and wars could be prevented. We still live in a world where too many are deprived of food, education and entertainment. If nature is neglected than there will not be enough food for ordinary citizens. If decent housing is a privilege of the rich, the poor will not acquire enough qualification for decent jobs. Consequently, for many hard-working people there is no possibility to visit and appreciate cultural institutions. Planning of urban and rural areas must be part of an overall strategy for social sustainability and equality. Obviously, architecture - also in its wider sense – cannot solve the climate challenge and generate peace. However, architecture which takes the ecological and social issues into account can help mitigate the disastrous effects of climate change and its social consequences.
Architecture and conflict resolution
Urban or rather rural development can also be helpful in the framework of reconciliation processes. Often the example of Rwanda is mentioned. But the effects of targeted (re)-settlement should not be exaggerated. It is important that any settlement of people of different ethnic origin is accompanied by thorough community work. As Delia Duong Ba Wendel is writing in an article “Living Together After Mass Violence”: “The key is to recognize that peace is a process(!) of realizing an imagined community. It is not to take peace-building initiatives as self- evident, but rather to be more attentive to the ruptures and conflicts that those architecture and planning projects produce.”
This is also true for mixed societies inside cities. It is helpful to have non-segregated cities, where there are many possibilities for members of different ethnic and social communities to meet each other, but spatial neighborhood planning is not enough. Schools, churches, political parties and other institutions should foster meetings and communication. Again, architecture must be part of a strategy which has people’s needs in mind and tries to prevent conflicts or at least is eager to implement conflict resolution.
A multidisciplinary and multifaceted architecture for a common world
Overall, the Biennale and most of its participants argue for a strong multidisciplinary approach. Architects and planners are invited to combine their artistic approach with more respect for the natural and social needs. And since the “world is one” - as it has been vividly demonstrated at the Biennale - this means that in all regions of the world the same principles have to be followed. It is about saving scarce resources, about decarbonization, about triggering and implementing circular economy and other. In this respect engineers play a major role, as was shown at the presentation of a bridge with high percentage of recycled concrete and produced partly by 3D concrete printing.
An important message of this year’s Biennale is the appeal for a fresh look at the “commons”. The old concept of preserving commons for the benefit of the community with access for all members of the community has to be revitalized. It is vital for the saving of scarce resources and can make the slogan “sharing is caring” true. We must care for the environment, for the next generation, for our neighbors. Not everything can and should be offered privately and follow market principles. Especially land is already too scarce to be continuously privatized. One exhibit presents the slogan: “From Ego to Eco”.
Interestingly, again and again “learning from each other” is put into the center of presentations and arguments. This includes technological innovations but also simple forms of buildings, adaption to various climates and communication and conflict resolution of so-called “primitive societies”. This Biennale demonstrates the ability of the West to approach global issues without arrogance. It recognizes that the West does not have solutions to all global problems. At the same time, richer parts of the world, like Europe, have an obligation to use the resources available to them to look for common solutions.
But what can the world learn from Europe? Well, Europe certainly does not have a past to be proud of. More and more cruelties and injustices of colonialism become known and discussed. However, Europe is slowly transforming into a community of nations and peoples. And this could develop into a “feasible utopia”. According to one contribution at the Biennale, “not only traditional civic and welfare architecture is needed, but also decent spaces for refugees, facilities for integration, sensible design strategies for climate and the environment, heritage management, innovative workspaces and so forth”. The recent climate policy proposals of the European Commission suggest development in this direction and one can only hope that the core of these proposals will be supported by the member states.
Additionally, in Europe one could develop concepts for both growing and shrinking communities. We should not forget that whereas the world population is overall growing and putting pressure on resources, in Europe, especially in the East of the continent, communities are shrinking. They have special needs that should be met in order to keep them alive and prevent depression in its different forms.
This Biennale with all its criticism of recent developments is not asking to go back to “nature”. It is not an enemy of innovation and technology. However, it asks for a critical review of recent developments and for an open mind. It proposes a general attitude and readiness to learn from all without prejudices. It wants architecture to play its role in preparing a peaceful, inclusive and just society. All human beings have a right to live in conditions which allow them to develop their skills and capacities. And all sciences should contribute to architecture which should not be reduced to spectacular buildings. Architecture must design and develop - out of existing conditions - an environment where people like to live and where the right to decent living can be fulfilled.
Dr. Hannes Swoboda, President of the International Institute for Peace (IP), started his career in urban politics in Vienna and was elected member of the European Parliament in 1996. He was Vice President of the Social Democrat Group until 2012 und then President until 2014. He was particularly engaged in foreign, enlargement, and neighborhood policies. Swoboda is also President of the Vienna Institute for International Economics, the Centre of Architecture, the University for Applied Science - Campus Vienna, and the Sir Peter Ustinov Institute.