Guest editor Ole Scheeren’s Archipelago Cinema, Venice
One of our trio of esteemed guest editors for the October issue, architect Ole Scheeren also dipped his toe in the waters of Venice during this year's 13th Architecture Biennale. The Archipelago Cinema, first seen moored in a steep cove on the Thai island of Yao Noi, was recreated and reborn as a venue in Venice, thanks to the flexibility of the original design and involvement of local craftspeople.
Formed from a series of rafts, lashed together with a grid of scaffolding, then clad with suitably maritime decking, the Cinema was then set adrift in the middle of the Arsenale basin, accessible only by water taxi. Strewn with comfy beanbags and the sparkling covers of our ultra-strict limited edition of Scheeren's guest-edited section of the magazine, the floating structure was the perfect alfresco setting for architecture films, screened over several days.
As the clear skies faded to stars on the opening night, the projector rolled and the drinks from Belvedere Vodka and Peroni Beer were doled out to the plucky guests. The aftershow party, with kind support from the KT Wong Foundation and our good selves, saw the platform shimmy to the sleek sound and vision created by Marc Feigenspann, Johannes Brecht and VJ Philipp Monjoie.
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Jonathan Bell has written for Wallpaper* magazine since 1999, covering everything from architecture and transport design to books, tech and graphic design. He is now the magazine’s Transport and Technology Editor. Jonathan has written and edited 15 books, including Concept Car Design, 21st Century House, and The New Modern House. He is also the host of Wallpaper’s first podcast.
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