Slovenia with space-age architecture at the Venice Biennale

Slovenia will present itself at one of the main venues at the 14th International Architecture Exhibition. The exhibit "The Problem of Space Travel – Supre: architecture" by Miha Turšič and Dragan Živadinov is predicted to be a true icon in Venice, as no one has yet tackled the challenge of architecture in space. Turšič heads Cultural Centre of European Space Technologies in Vitanje (KSEVT), where they are wondering what it is like to be a human in space. Their commitment and strong vision have convinced the Slovenian and international cultural public, led by Rem Koolhaas, curator of one of the most important architectural events in the world. This year`s topic Fundamentals/Absorbing Modernity is both contextually and symbolically linked to the Slovenian exhibit.

Did you know that one of the pioneer researches of space and human survival in orbit comes from Slovenia? The main part of the Slovenian project at the Biennale will be dedicated to such a pioneer: Herman Potočnik was the first to conceive the space architecture. Turšič described him as a humanist rocket scientist, who was developing technological solutions for life in space already in the time when technology was mainly used for destruction. He described these solutions in 1928 in his book The Problem of Space Travel, which was also the name of the Slovenian presentation in Venice, designed in three parts by its authors Turšič and Živadinov.

The first part will feature the cosmic personality, work, and contribution of Herman Potočnik to the international space architecture. The second will include a symposium underlining the understanding and importance of space architecture for humankind. The third part will be dedicated to modernistic development of architecture in Slovenia, as organizers of the Biennale asked participating countries to present 3 architectural breakthroughs from the 20th century. These will be Plečnik`s church in Bogojina, Šubic`s Nebotičnik in Ljubljana, and the former Trg revolucije or today`s Trg republike by a group of architects led by Edvard Ravnikar.

In addition to the Venetian architectural Biennale, the story of humans in a weightless environment can be felt in Slovenia, too! In Vitanje, the birthplace of Herman Potočnik`s ancestors, an actual "flying disc" was built. Cultural Centre of European Space Technologies or KSEVT for short is an architectural masterpiece which has been awarded several times, and is the architectural creation made by 4 of the most eminent modern architecture studios in Slovenia. The bridge between culture and space opens up two poles of appropriating space: scientific/technical and artistic/humanistic. The development of space architecture, which began with Potočnik himself, is a sort of intersection of both poles. Take part in one of the conferences, workshops, or exhibits of the local artists whose work focuses on sustainable approaches to researching and developing cultural space programs. Slovenia feels space!

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