RCR Arquitectes: RCR. Dream and Nature_Catalonia in Venice

The Institut Ramon Llull presents as Collateral Event RCR. Dream and Nature_Catalonia in Venice, a project about the architecture firm RCR Arquitectes—recipients of the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2017—for the 16th International Venice Architecture Biennale, that will run from May 26 to November 25, 2018.

The project, which will represent Catalonia in the Biennale Architettura 2018 as Collateral Event and which is curated by journalist Pati Nunez and architect Estel Ortega along with RCR Arquitectes, reveals an unknown side of Rafael Aranda, Carme Pigem and Ramon Vilalta: their most intimate universe. These three architects have created a space to research and rethink man’s relationship to the world, located in the La Vila estate in the Bianya Valley (Girona), and it’s in this landscape that their project for 16th International Architecture Exhibition is based.

The project 
To access a secret, ambiguous place, and before getting to the dream, you must first cross over an initial phase: the Threshold. This is to give the visitor the feeling of entering little by little into a dematerialized space where they don’t know exactly where they are, as if falling into a light sleep. It’s an intermediary space, dynamic, where the content refers to RCR’s previous work and it constitutes a presentation and a summary of their trajectory.

Then the Dream arrives: a more profound state of sleep. A cave of lights and movement, with a fragmented and mysterious spatial conception, where material from the La Vila project is presented exclusively. La Vila as destination and means, like an unfinished construction and a life’s work. And this interpretation of RCR’s intimate world, its strength and sensuality, is taken to the extreme so that the visitor can move as they like through the space and create their own unique experience. Just like in a dream.

All of these profound philosophical concepts are defined as the Geography of Dreams, and they are presented through a series of magnifying glasses that distort reality, that both reflect and fragment the world, that bring you closer and yet further away, in a sort of game that confuses, surprises, envelops, and, lastly, compels the visitor to reflect.  

Corporate sponsorship and institutional collaborations
The main exhibition sponsor is the curved glass company, Cricursa. The project’s lighting is sponsored by the company Lamp. On the institutional side, the strategic collaboration of the COAC (Architect’s Association of Catalonia) has been key, as well as the sponsorship by the Costa Brava Girona Tourist Board and collaboration from the Olot City Council (Olot Culture).

About the Institut Ramon Llull
The Institut Ramon Llull has produced and organized Catalonia’s participation as Collateral Event of La Biennale di Venezia since 2009, and has been present at the Venice Architecture Biennale since 2012. The Institut Ramon Llull is a consortium that comprises the Generalitat de Catalunya (Government of Catalonia), Balearic Islands Government and the Barcelona City Council, and its mission is the promotion of Catalan language and culture abroad.

Opening: May 24, 1pm 

RSVP to confirmations [​at​] llull.cat 

Talks: New Formats: Dream and Nature, with the support of the COAC
The talks will take place at the warehouse adjacent to Cantieri Navali. They will be open to the public and can be streamed live from the Architect’s Association of Catalonia (COAC) headquarters in Barcelona.

May 24, 12 pm
Creating Knowledge. New Ways of Communicating Art and Architecture
Eva Franch and Pedro Gadanho. Moderated by Pati Nunez (ENG)

May 25, 4–5:30pm
Architecture Criticism
Glenn Murcutt, Juhani Pallasmaa and William J.R. Curtis. Presented by Estel Ortega (ENG)

5:30–7pm
Closing conference
RCR Dream and Nature, with William J.R. Curtis and RCR Arquitectes (SP)