The “Qatar Creates” initiative announced today that it will participate in the 18th International Architecture Exhibition (Venice Biennale) from May 14 to November 26, 2023 at Palazzo Cavalli Francetti, Italy. The initiative will participate in the documentary exhibition titled “We Build a Creative Nation”, which is the first exhibition to be held outside the country to introduce the next generation of cultural institutions in Qatar. The “We Build a Creative Nation” exhibition, designed by /24/, focuses on five new cultural sites that Qatar Museums is developing in the country, in cooperation with internationally reputed engineering firms: Studio Elemental, Herzog & de Meuron, and the Metropolitan Office of Architecture (OM). A/, Philippe Starck, and UN Studio. Qatar Museums will operate the new institutions, which are concerned with preserving and expanding Qatar’s cultural property by overseeing Qatar’s growing network of museums, heritage sites, festivals, public art program, and more. The exhibition brings together digital images, photographs, drawings, studies, models, and videos, as well as immersive content, to present each project as a considered architectural response to an aspect of Qatar’s nation-building programme, and to showcase those future institutions, whether a new building or a retrofit project. For an ancient building, Qatar’s commitment to architecture as a strategic tool for achieving the country’s forward-looking cultural goals, which are defined by the Qatar National Vision 2030, mainly aims to develop an innovative and diverse society through investment in the creative industries. Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani, Chair of the Board of Trustees of Qatar Museums, said in a statement today: "When the opportunity arose to support the Kengo Kuma exhibition at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2023, we felt that it would be a great occasion to showcase the cultural projects that Qatar is working on after its success in hosting the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. The cultural, economic and socio-political relations between Qatar and Italy have always been distinguished. By force, and this applies to the relations between Qatar and Japan as well. Therefore, it is a distinguished occasion in our modern history to reveal the size of the ambitious cultural program of the State of Qatar during one of the largest exhibitions of architecture, and the most important display platform for revolutionary designs ever.". The projects presented by the exhibition / We Build a Creative Nation / are: / Art Mills /, Architectural Design: Elemental Studio / led by Alejandro Aravena, / Lusail Museum / Architectural Design: Herzog & De Meuron, and / Qatar Motor Museum /, Architectural Design: Metropolitan Office OMA Architects, led by Rem Koolhaas and Samir Bantal, Qatar Preparatory School, Concept Architect: Philippe Starck, DD – Children’s Museum of Qatar, Architectural Design: UN Studio. These new developments build on Qatar’s continuing legacy of investment in the world-class museums and cultural spaces that have opened in the country over the past 15 years, which include: The Museum of Islamic Art by IMBai (2008) and Mathaf: The Arab Museum of Modern Art by François Boudin (2010) and Fire Station: Artists Residence by Ibrahim Jaidah (2015), Qatar National Library by OMA Architects (2017), Qatar National Museum by Jean Nouvel (2019), M7 Center by John Maxlan & Partners ( 2021), and 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum designed by Juan Cibina (2022). Other notable architectural commissions Qatar has seen in recent years include: Al Janoub Stadium by Zaha Hadid Architects, Lusail Stadium by Studio Foster & Partners, Qatar National Convention Center by Arata Isozaki + Associates, Education City Student Center and buildings for three university programs Designed by Legoretta + Legoretta. As part of its commitment to promoting international dialogue through architecture, and as the main sponsor, the “Qatar Creates” initiative provided support for a special exhibition of the works of the famous Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, which is being held in conjunction with the exhibition “We Build a Creative Nation” at Palazzo Cavalli Franchetti. Kengo Kuma is one of the most famous architects working in Japan today, and he is famous for his combination of architecture and landscapes, and his keenness to use natural light and natural materials, especially wood. Among his prominent works are the Wooden Bridge Museum building in Yosuhara, and the Garden Terrace Hotel Nagasaki in southwestern Japan. , Yunfeng Spa in China, the Victoria and Albert Museum in Dundee, and the Japan National Stadium, which was the main stadium for the Olympic Games (Tokyo 2020). The exhibition, Onomatopoeia – Selected Projects, will explore the full range of Coma’s work using a variety of materials. A massive metal pavilion, designed by Coma, will occupy a central space in the walled garden of Palazzo Cavalli-Franchetti.
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