The Truth “Beyond Form”

Werner Sobek brings urgent environmental issues to the fore with his installation at the Biennale Architettura 2016.

Alejandro Aravena, curator of the 15th International Architecture Exhibition (La Biennale di Venezia), invited Werner Sobek to make a contribution to his show in the Arsenale. In response, Sobek designed a textile-covered cube that is partially veiled by a black cloth. Entitled “Beyond Form”, this artistic, philosophical work brings the urgent issues of our time – the population explosion and global warming – to the fore.

According to a recent piece in ART magazine, “Alejandro Aravena stands out from many of his colleagues, not just as an architect, but, indirectly, as a climate protection advocate with a sense of social responsibility.” The Chilean architect has used his role as artistic director of the Biennale Architettura 2016 to shape the exhibition in a correspondingly critical, thought-provoking way.

Like Alejandro Aravena, Werner Sobek is regarded as a visionary who uses his ideas for the built environment to fight for better living conditions. Sobek responded to Aravena’s invitation to exhibit in the Arsenale by creating an installation in the shape of a textile-covered cube. This mysterious, abstract work challenges viewers to look “beyond form” and address the urgent issues of our time.

Defining the architecture of tomorrow
In Sobek’s opinion, “the search for the architecture of tomorrow is no longer focussed on issues of form. Instead, it is concerned with answering the two major questions surrounding the future of construction. Firstly, due to the population explosion, we must find a recycling-friendly way of using fewer and fewer materials to produce greater numbers of buildings that function without any need for fossil fuels. Our second challenge is to avoid consuming fossilised sources of energy altogether. The enormous volume of CO2 emissions generated during the construction and operation of our buildings exacerbates the problem of global warming in an irresponsible manner.”

“Beyond Form” – a lightweight cube with a serious message
The installation’s visual and textual message is not the only thing that surprises visitors – the striking contrast between the cube’s seemingly massive volume and its ability to float above the floor also prompts numerous questions from curious onlookers. This effect is made possible thanks to the work’s extremely light, textile-covered supporting structure. The installation can be seen at the 15th International Architecture Exhibition (La Biennale di Venezia) until 27th November 2016. After that date, it will be dismantled within the space of just a few hours and separated out into its discrete constituent parts.

Werner Sobek will speak on the topic “Materials/Structures” in the Teatro alle Tese at 3pm on August 27, 2016.

Cube details:
• Volume: 100 m3
• Floor area: 22m2
• Weight of the timber construction, including textiles: 620kg

Stuttgart, July 2016
Publication free of charge / File copy requested



Caption:
1 Despite its volume, the cube designed by Werner Sobek for the 15th Architecture Biennale looks totally weightless. Its message is of great contemporary importance. (Photo: René Müller)
2 Architect Werner Sobek introduces the subject of his installation: the population explosion and global warming. (Photo: Andreas Körner)
3 The cube bears the text of the Assessment Report from the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) in 12 languages. The black veil only allows part of the message to shine through. (Photo: René Müller)
4 The mysterious, abstract installation challenges viewers to look “beyond form” and address the urgent issues of our time. (Photo: René Müller)
5 According to Werner Sobek, the future of construction does not lie in questions of form, but in creating more buildings with fewer materials in a completely recycling-friendly way. (Photo: René Müller)
6 The installation can be dismantled in the space of just a few hours and sorted out into its discrete constituent parts. (Photo: René Müller)



About Werner Sobek
Founded by Werner Sobek in 1992, the group of companies that bears his name is known around the world for its engineering, architecture, design and sustainability. The group has branches in Stuttgart, Dubai, Frankfurt, London, Moscow, New York and Istanbul. All of Werner Sobek’s projects win admiration for their high-quality designs based on first-class engineering and sophisticated concepts that minimise the use of energy and materials. The company has around 280 employees.
Stuttgart, July 2016
Publication free of charge / File copy requested