The Majlis: a Meeting Place at La Biennale di Venezia
Client: Caravane Earth
Location: Abbey of San Giorgio Maggiore, for the Architectural Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia
At the 17th Architectural Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, I served as the senior project manager for The Majlis, an exhibition centered around the theme 'How will we live together?'. The exhibit featured an innovative design by acclaimed bamboo architects from Bogotá, Colombia, beautifully complemented by textiles crafted by artisans from the Atlas Mountains of Morocco.
The Majlis aimed to foster intercultural dialogue and demonstrate the value of traditional knowledge in addressing contemporary environmental challenges. Throughout the project, I organized a series of impactful events, including a symposium with leading global thinkers in vernacular architecture from institutions such as INTBAU and the Louvre, helped facilitate the publication of a comprehensive research book, and effectively managed diverse stakeholder needs.
After the Biennale, the Majlis was exhibited at the Old Palace in The National Museum of Qatar 2022-2023.
Selected press
Financial Times
New York Times
The National
Dezeen
Designboom
Credits
Vision & strategy: Fahad Al-Attiyah, Rajae El Mouhandiz
Curator: Thierry Morel
Architect: Simón Vélez and Stefana Simić at GIGAGRASS
Landscape architect: Todd Longstaffe-Gowan
Textiles: Ahmed Chmiti and the Boujad Tribe cooperative
Artefacts on loan from: Wereldmuseum
Photography (Colombia & Morocco): Jörg Gruber, Simone Padovani (Venice)
PR: Bolton & Quinn