The Fondation Cartier Conversations at the 19th Venice Biennale of Architecture accompanies the public programme of conversations The Museum as site of architectural experimentation hosted at Fondazione Cini on the occasion of the exhibition “The Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain by Jean Nouvel”, collateral event of the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia. Convening architects and museum professionals, these conversations question the museum’s role in fostering the future of the architectural discipline whilst nurturing a dynamic exchange about the role of architects and architecture in shaping the cultural policy of museums.
You can listen to the episodes on FondationCartier.com, and KoozArch's Spotify and Apple podcasts.
EP 01 | Welcome from the Curator: the Fondation Cartier Conversations at the 19th Venice Biennale of Architecture with Béatrice Grenier.
In the first episode, Fondation Cartier’s Director of Strategic Project and International Programs Béatrice Grenier sits down with KoozArch’s founder Federica Zambeletti to discuss how, since its creation in 1984 the Fondation Cartier has placed architecture and design at the heart of its identity both in terms of site but also programming. Touching upon both the museum’s new building, designed by Jean Nouvel, and upcoming cultural programme in between temporary exhibitions, conversations and other both physical and digital exchanges, the conversation highlights the museum's role in cultural experimentation and the importance of architecture in fostering interdisciplinary dialogue.
EP 02 | Dynamic Architectures with Elizabeth Diller, Jean Nouvel, and Mark Wigley; Introduced by Chris Dercon and Béatrice Grenier
In this second episode, we first tune in to hear from Fondation Cartier’s General Director, Chris Dercon and Director of Strategic Project and International Programs, Béatrice Grenier who introduce Nouvel's new building for the Fondation Cartier in the heart of Paris at 2 Place du Palais-Royal. Presented as a "Belvedere" the new museum space sits within a lineage of dynamic architecture which have characterised the city of Paris, from Gordon Matta Clark “Conical Intersect” to “OMA’s Lafayette Anticipations”, as well as from wider architectural imaginaries as Cedric Price’s “Fun Palace” amongst others. Moderated by Mark Wigley, the conversation between Jean Nouvel and Elizabeth Diller then explores the potential of dynamic architectures in relation to museum spaces, suggesting that rather than simply being above moveable elements, dynamic architecture should provoke and challenge.
Upcoming episodes include:
EP | 03 Cultural Infrastructure for urban transformation with Andrés Jaque, Antoine Picon and Joshua Ramus. (to be released on the 30th of May)
EP | 04 The Architectural Layers of the Museum with Giovanna Borasi, Cecilia Puga and Manuel Segade. (to be released on 6th of June)
EP | 05 Rethinking Pavilions as Potential Museums with Chris Dercon, Nicolas Fayad and Lina Ghotmeh. (to be released on the 13th of June)
Stay tuned!
Bios
Chris Dercon is an art historian, curator and the Director of the Fondation Cartier pour l’Art Contemporain. He has been managing cultural institutions since 1988 when he began his career as program director of PS1 New York to then direct the Witte de With (Melly Kunsinstituut), the Boijmans van Beuningen in Rotterdam, the Haus der Kunst in Munich, the Tate Modern in London,the Volksbuhne Theater in Berlin, the Grand Plais Réunion des Musée Nationaux in Paris,. Dercon has also worked as a teacher, critic and journalist.
Elizabeth Diller is a partner of Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DS+R). Alongside partner Ricardo Scofidio, Diller’s cross-genre work has been distinguished with TIME’s "100 Most Influential People" list and the first MacArthur Foundation fellowship awarded in the field of architecture. Her significant cultural and civic works in New York include the High Line, the transformation of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the renovation and expansion of the Museum of Modern Art and The Shed. Her design for the V&A East Storehouse in London will be opening later this month. Diller is a member of the UN Council on Urban Initiatives and a Professor of Architectural Design at Princeton University.
Béatrice Grenier is a Paris-based curator, writer and editor. She is currently the Director of Strategic Projects & International Programs at the Fondation Cartier. Beyond her work with Fondation Cartier, Béatrice is also collaborating with Professor Aziza Chaouni on a research project about expanding heritage in the UNESCO world heritage city of StoneTown, Tanzania as well as being the Paris desk editor of ArtAsiaPacific. Her new book, Architecture for Culture: Rethinking Museums will be published by Rizzoli in the Fall of 2025.
Jean Nouvel is an architect and the principal of Atelier Jean Nouvel, the architectural firm he established in 1970. Nouvel’s contextual approach and ability to infuse a genuine uniqueness into all the projects he undertakes have consistently yielded buildings that transform their environments and indelibly mark the cities in which they are built. Nouvel has received numerous accolades, including the Pritzker Prize in 2008.
Mark Wigley is Professor of Architecture at Columbia University. He is a historian, theorist, and critic who explores the intersection of architecture, art, philosophy, culture, and technology. Wigley publishes extensively and has curated exhibitions at MoMA, The Drawing Center, Witte de With, Het Nieuwe Instituut, the Canadian Centre for Architecture, and the Power Station of Art in Shanghai.
Federica Zambeletti is the founder and managing director of KoozArch. She is an architect, researcher and storyteller whose interests lie at the intersection between art, architecture and regenerative practices. In 2022 Federica founded KoozArch with the ambition of creating a space where to research, explore and discuss architecture beyond the limits of its built form. Prior to dedicating her full attention to KoozArch, Federica collaborated with the architecture studio and non-profit agency for change UNA/UNLESS working on numerous cultural projects and the research of "Antarctic Resolution".
