Kosovo Architecture Foundation

Kosovan Pavilion featured on Arch Daily

© Nico Saieh

After a long struggle for independence, Kosovo became a new European country in 2008. Much of it’s urban landscape consists of Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian and Communist era architecture that has been mostly remained untouched by the war. As wealth returns and the economy slowly grows, a new building spur has ignited, covering the city with a sprawl of store fronts, apartments and office buildings.

The Kosovan Pavilion takes a step back to reflect on the current state of their urban landscape, asking important questions on how architecture will effect the future of Kosovan identity and, more importantly, the emotional state and behaviors of the individuals that inhabit its cities. With the exhibition, The Filigree Maker, visitors and participants world-wide are given the opportunity to help shape the future Kosovo by sharing their emotional response to images of existing architecture. Find out more and learn how you can participate, after the break.

© Nico Saieh

Represented by the Kosovan Ministry of Culture, with its commissioner Bekim Ramku and curator Përparim Rama, the Kosovan Pavilion at the 2012 Venice Biennale provides an opportunity for visitors to think deeply about their surroundings. With the exhibition, The Filigree Maker, the pavilion seeks to answer these important questions: What lies ahead for Kosovan architecture? How is Kosovo’s design landscape evolving? How do Kosovans feel about the buildings that are in their cities?

The exhibit, names after an ancient and traditional metal-making technique that twists threads of wire into jewelry, attempts to provide answers to these questions by recording the emotional responses of each visitor to current works of architecture. In addition, participants are encouraged to submit their own architectural photos of places they live, work and raise families through social-media. This creates an ever-expanding library of current architecture that is categorized by the emotions they evoke.

The images are linked to one of the following emotions: happiness, sadness, entrapment, excitement, freedom, or anger. Each, of which, is represented by a specific color.

© Nico Saieh

People from all over the world have the opportunity to express their own emotional reactions through these photographs and share their vision for Kosovo’s future in terms of the country’s design landscape, thus establishing a new “common ground”.

Curator, Perparim Rama states: “This exhibit intends to create a guide to current structure, creative design and future innovation.”

© Nico Saieh

Kosovo Team: Bekim Ramku, Perparim Rama, Winy Maas, Eliza Hoxha, Teuta Jashari Kajtazi, Valdet Osmani, Sali Spahiu, Ilir Murseli, Astrit Hajrullahu, Nol Binakaj, Fitim Mucaj, Agron Mjekiqi, David Beer, Miguel Fonseca, Desariot Ademaj, Valon Jashari, Besjan Krasniqi, Alush Gashi, Alban Gagica, Vjollca Podvorica, Hana Nixha, Nikki Murseli, Kristal Ivazaj Rama, D-Line.