Philippines wins first-ever award at the Biennale Architettura

The Philippines has won its first-ever award in the Venice Architecture Biennale.

Out of 60 National Participations, the exhibition “Structures of Mutual Support” curated by Framework Collaborative (GKEF community, Sudarshan V. Khadka Jr. & Alexander Eriksson Furunes) was given the Special Mention as National Participation at the 17th International Architecture Exhibition.

The structure “explores how the principles of mutual support would shape architecture by involving people directly in determining values embedded in it.”

It was completed after a series of workshops based on bayanihan, “the Filipino tradition of mutual support,” and the planned “community library” and “conflict-resolution space.”

“Structures of Mutual Support” was awarded by La Biennale di Venezia for its “exemplary community project that creates a rich archive and experience of collaborative construction practices.”

Architects Khadka and Furunes received the awards at the ceremony held Aug. 30, 2021, at Ca’ Giustinian, the headquarters of La Biennale di Venezia.

“We accept this award also on behalf of our collaborators … mula sa puso, para sa bayan. Salamat,” Khadka said in a release.

Furunes, on the other hand, thanked the La Biennale for “recognizing that bayanihan and dugnad can be real alternatives to how we can live together.”

“The way we build is really the way we live. This is really important to us,” the Filipino curator added.

The award marks the first win for the Philippines since the country participated at the Venice Art Biennale in 1964.

This is also the first time a National Pavilion from Southeast Asia has received an award in the prestigious global platform.

The “Structures of Mutual Support” traveled to Venice for the duration of the exhibition scheduled to run until Nov. 21, 2021.

The library, which was shipped to Venice before the lockdowns last year, will return to GK Enchanted Farm community in Angat, Bulacan, where it will be built and used by the community permanently. – Margaret Claire Layug/RC, GMA News