The Laboratory of the Future The old as a resource of the new Two young architects, Iva Njunjić and Tihomir Dičić, are appearing at the 18 th International Architecture Exhibition in Venice, which runs until 26 th November this year The project of archi- tects Iva Njunjić and Ti- homir Dičić , entitled In Reflec- tions..., presents the notion that pre-existing buildings that have been well-designed architecturally can serve as a resource in shaping the future. The authors thus provided their unique response to the theme of Venice Architecture Biennale cu- rator Lesley Lokko – “The Laborato- ry of the Future”. By focusing on the building of the International Trade Fair in Lagos, Nigeria, they addressed the core idea of her thesis that Africa will become the continent with the greatest demographic growth, which will attract the attention of world-re- nowned architects and lead to new construction endeavours. The installation at the exhibi- tion’s Serbian Pavilion serves to lead visitors on a journey in a time ma- chine, as it encompasses the effect of two realities: past and present. “The Lagos Fair project of Belgrade com- pany Energoprojekt, built between 1974 and 1976, involved the urban- isation of 350 hectares of wetlands. The building itself was a symbol of the newly established multination- al state... In an architectural sense, it was created through the multiply- ing of a single concrete triangle. An artificial lake was also built within the scope of the complex,” say these young architects, describing the for- mer picture of the fair. The major changes that sub-
Badagry Expressway, Market, Lagos Badagry Expressway, Market, Lagos
sequently hit this African country, from economic crisis to the relo- cating of the capital, were also re- flected in the fate of the Fair. It now serves as a wholesale hypermarket for the region of West Africa. En- tering the conceptually conceived space of the Pavilion, in the form of an ellipsoid “spatial-temporal” map, visitors are invited to reflect on the aesthetics and functionality of the chosen space. The exhibition also covers the two architects’ journals from their trip to Lagos, as well as interviews with experts and local residents, with which they familiarise visitors with
the local context of the complex’s metamorphosis. “We had an impres- sion of constant anticipation as we made our way through the traffic con- gestion on the endless highways lead- ing to the Fair. We were awaited there by dualities that are also very evident across other parts of the city. On the one hand, the fair halls that are still owned by the state have been aban- doned and are overgrown with vege- tation, while those that are now pri- vately owned have seen their purpose change, now housing many ware- houses, banks, various workshops, and even a church,” explain Njunjić and Dičić. Having been taught by this example, and their colleagues around the world, they can conclude that it is not necessary to build new facilities, but rather to utilise exist- ing ones in the most affirmative/ap- propriate way. The International Architecture Exhibition in Venice, the Venice Ar- chitecture Biennale, is held at the same venue as the more famous Ven- ice Art Biennale, with these events organised alternately and aimed at presenting the best in their respec- tive fields from around the world.
APT pijaca, Internacionalni sajam u Lagosu APT Plaza, Lagos International Trade Fair
Architecture » Arhitektura | 49
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