Canadian Centre for Architecture
1920, rue Baile
Montreal, Québec
Canada H3H 2S6
T +1 514 939 7001
[email protected]
The Canadian Centre for Architecture is pleased announce the appointment of its long-term CCA curator Giovanna Borasi as its new Chief Curator. In her new role, Borasi will further strengthen CCA’s curatorial vision and develop institutional initiatives that explore contemporary issues in architecture with a special emphasis on urban, social, and environmental concerns.
Giovanna Borasi joined the CCA in 2005 as Curator of Contemporary Architecture to lead the programs division, overseeing all exhibitions, publications, and public programs. In this capacity Borasi worked closely with CCA Director Mirko Zardini to develop and define a thematic-based curatorial vision for the institution. Together, they organized the influential exhibitions and accompanying publications 1973: Sorry, Out of Gas (2007), Actions: What You Can Do With the City (2008), Imperfect Health: The Medicalization of Architecture (2011), among others. Mirko Zardini, who held the position of CCA Director and Chief Curator, continues as CCA Director with responsibilities including the strategic direction and long-term strategy of the institution.
Giovanna Borasi assumed her new role of Chief Curator in January 2014. In this new capacity Borasi is able to further strengthen the CCA’s unique character as an exhibiting and collecting research institution by unifying the areas of research, collection, exhibitions, and publications under one direction. The shared thematic thinking and overarching curatorial character allows CCA to develop interrelated research and activities with resonance across all areas of the institution. In this sense, the CCA can make better use of its resources and involve scholars and curators as well as architects and other professionals in the development of new research, acquisitions, exhibitions, and publications. The CCA will become even more active in bringing diverse people to use its collection and develop new lines of research.
“We are thrilled to appoint Giovanna Borasi as Chief Curator,” said CCA Director Mirko Zardini. “She has been an integral part of the development and shaping of the CCA for nearly ten years and her experience and vision will help us direct our various activities under one shared curatorial direction.”
About Giovanna Borasi
Giovanna Borasi is a curator, writer and editor. As CCA Curator of Contemporary Architecture from 2005 to 2013 she has curated several exhibitions and edited the related books with a particular focus on how environmental and social issues are influencing today’s urbanism and architecture: Environment: Approaches for Tomorrow (2006) on the work of Gilles Clément and Philippe Rahm, Some Ideas on Living in London and Tokyo by Stephen Taylor and Ryue Nishizawa (2008), Journeys: How Travelling Fruit, Ideas and Buildings Rearrange our Environment (2010) which examined how migration transforms the physical environment in an increasingly mobile world. She co-curated Other Space Odysseys (2010) featuring the work of architects Greg Lynn, Michael Maltzan, and Alessandro Poli (Superstudio), 1973: Sorry, Out of Gas (2007), Actions: What You Can Do With the City (2008–2009) and Imperfect Health: The Medicalization of Architecture (2011).
Before joining the CCA, Ms. Borasi co-curated House Sweet Home, Different Ways to Live, Spazio Ventisette, Milan (2000), and collaborated on several exhibitions including Asfalto, Il carattere della città at the Milan Triennale (2003) and Notizie dall’Interno (Italian Pavilion, 9th Architecture Biennale, Venice, 2004), both with Mirko Zardini.
Educated in architecture, Borasi has initiated her career as editor and writer for Lotus International (1998–2005) and LotusNavigator (2000–2004). She has also served as assistant editor for the book series Quaderni di Lotus (1999); and was member of the editorial staff of the graphic design magazine Lettera (2000), a supplement to the magazine Abitare. Most recently she has been Deputy Editor in Chief for the architectural magazine Abitare (2011–2013). She has written widely on contemporary architecture, has been invited to sit on a number of international juries, and is a regular speaker at events, symposia, and conferences.
About the CCA
Celebrating the 25th international anniversary of its opening to the public this year, CCA is an research centre and museum founded in 1979 on the conviction that architecture is a public concern. Based on its extensive Collection, the CCA is a leading voice in advancing knowledge, promoting public understanding, and widening thought and debate on architecture, its history, theory, practice, and role in society.
