In 2019, the team behind the Philippine Pavilion exhibition at the 17th Venice Architecture Biennale collaborated on the exhibition Structures of Mutual Support curated by Framework Collaborative. The exhibition explores how the Filipino concept of mutual support, “bayanihan,” can shape architecture anew by transforming the process from merely building to fulfilling a community’s dream by involving its people from planning, designing, and constructing a structure that holds their shared needs, desires, and values.
For this project, volunteer residents from the GK Enchanted Farm attended a series of workshops in Angat, Bulacan led by Framework Collaborative’s architects Sudarshan V. Khadka, Jr. and Alexander Eriksson Furunes to derive a common language to build something they all want: a LIBRARY within the village.
By February 2020, the structure was packed, shipped and stored in Venice, while the team in the Philippines remotely prepared for the opening in August 2020.
Last May 18, 2020, the organizers of the Venice Biennale, through its president Roberto Cicutto and curator Hashim Sarkis, announced the postponement of the 17th Venice Architecture Biennale to 2021. The news was welcomed by the curators, the commissioner, and the Philippine Pavilion team that believed that postponement was the most responsible and sensitive decision.
As the Philippine Pavilion awaits the 2021 opening of the exhibition, we will continue posting information on the current Philippine Pavilion Exhibition including documentaries, webinars, essays that further explore the concepts and conversations raised by the Structures of Mutual Support.
For the initial post, we’d like to share the photo essay that documents the process of the Philippine Pavilion exhibition Structures of Mutual Support.
Photos courtesy of the Philippine Arts at the Venice Biennale
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- Workshop Participants: The exhibition Structures of Mutual Support was made together with the GK Enchanted Farm community in Angat, Bulacan. For the project, a total of 32 teenagers and adults participated in the workshop series. Photo by Alexander Eriksson Furunes
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- Learning Module: Mind Map. Before going into building the structure they want for the community, the workshop participants underwent a mind-mapping exercise. This first phase of the process helped the curators understand how the residents see GK Enchanted Farm, and the places in and around it that they deem important. Photo by Ron Stephen Reyes
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- The Making Module: As bayanihan is integral to the concept of the exhibition, the participants were encouraged to explore ways on how they can physically work together to complete a common task. During the Making Phase, workshop members showcased and tested their ideas, values, and construction skills by building a mock-up of a scoreboard. Photo by Alexander Eriksson Furunes
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- The Community Members as Experts: Bayanihan deals not just with the physical aspect of helping out but also with involving more voices to achieve a goal. In the workshops, each member was encouraged to contribute their own ideas for the look and purpose of the structure they wanted to build. Here, Christy and Fe present their plan for a library. Photo by Ron Stephen Reyes Photo by Ron Stephen Reyes
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- The Grid: During the Concept Phase, the participants were able to gain knowledge on architectural theories from the curators who are the experts in this field. The full-scale grid is one of the results of this exercise, which allowed the community members to test the structural configuration of their proposed library in terms of area, lighting, and ventilation. Photo by Ron Stephen Reyes
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- Exploration of Space: Workshop participants were taught to evaluate space and building proportions to help them understand the architectural process more and apply it to their respective designs. They were also able to physically inspect the project site and apply the proposed grids in its actual location, size, and environment. Exploration of the actual space led to collectively editing and revising their plans in terms of placement and location. Photo by Alexander Eriksson Furunes
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- Design Phase: The workshop allowed for an exchange of knowledge and values, not just between community members, but also with the architects. This helped create a common language that became a catalyst for the planning, designing, and constructing the structure. The Design Phase focused on translating the concepts into the actual design of the space, structure, location, interiors, and exteriors of the building. Photo by Alexander Eriksson Furunes
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- Prototyping: The making of the door and window prototypes, from bamboo and coco lumber, also gave a glimpse on the construction skills of the participants. Moreover, it showed their capacity on transforming their ideas into life-size samples and verbalizing them during the presentation to their fellow GK community members. Photo by Alexander Eriksson Furunes
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- The Building Phase: Constructing the library structure commenced after the workshop series that was participated in by members of the GK Enchanted Farm in Angat, Bulacan. Photo by Alexander Eriksson Furunes
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- Focus on Workmanship: Architectural design explores the values of honest materiality and craftsmanship. For example, the lumber used in building the library’s structural frames is of standard S4S finish and devoid of any chemical finishing. Craftsmanship was evident in the exclusive use of metal nuts and bolts, necessary for the repeated mounting and dismantling process that the structure must undergo. Photo by Ron Stephen Reyes
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- Not Without Setbacks: Despite hitches in material supply that cost about a month’s worth of time, Framework Collaborative and GK Enchanted Farm members were able to finish the framework of the library within their set timeframe. Photo by Alexander Eriksson Furunes
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- Structure of Mutual Support: Through mutual cooperation and the creation of a common language, Framework Collaborative and the members of the GK Enchanted Farm were able to start planning, designing, and building the library that holds the shared needs and values of the community. Photo by Chris Yuhico
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- A Showcase for the World: The library structure, which was dismantled and shipped to Italy, will be mounted at the Philippine Pavilion during the 17th Venice Architecture Biennale. After the exhibition, the framework will be brought back to Angat, Bulacan and permanently constructed on its original site, for the benefit of the GK Enchanted Farm community. Photo by Don Patrick Claudio