In this episode of "Scaffold," Matthew Blunderfield hosts critics Fabrizio Gallanti, Emily Conklin, and Phin Harper to dissect the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale. They critique the Biennale's curatorial ambiguity, its overwhelming content, and its reliance on technology, questioning whether it served as a genuine platform for architectural discourse or merely a trade show. The discussion explores the Biennale's perceived political undertones, the role of inclusivity versus curatorial vision, and the challenges of representing architecture in a gallery setting, ultimately pondering the relevance and future of architectural biennales in contemporary culture. The guests also share personal experiences, discuss the ethics of criticism, and recommend influential books and buildings.
