Babau Bureau
Babau Bureau is an architectural and landscape office founded in Venice by Marco Ballarin, Stefano Tornieri and Massimo Triches. The bureau’s approach is based on a pragmatic and site-specific architecture developed from user needs and totally respectful of the urban context. Babau Bureau’s current research focuses on the reuse and transformation of buildings and open spaces as a contemporary requirement and a sustainable development strategy.
Mausoleo
Buildings are not enough, but sometimes we don’t even need them! For ages, tracing signs on the ground has been the basis of the selecting territory. This activity also defines a way of occupying space, introducing new rules of movement, observation, behaviour and perceptions.
The purpose of our project, in a courtyard in Gldani, is to trace the plan of the Mausoleo of Santa Costanza, a classical building which gives a new geometry, a new order, an abstract space to the empty space of the courtyard, generating new perceptions and possibilities. This fundamental and “architectonic” act is rich with custom and popular elements, furniture, recycled materials, plants and people. In this sense, the basic compositional signs of buildings could have the power to define the occupation and use of the space, even if it is not built. This continuous modification alludes to ancient buildings’ capacity for transformation and permanence throughout centuries, even if they change forms and functions.
Workshops
Fabrikafitti – Street Art and Grafiti
Graffiti ends up to be the most immediate method of self-expression, maybe this is the reason of it having the most authentic and timely content. Fabrikafitti and Graffiti crew “Tsru” will offer a small workshop and a lecture, as a happening on the sight of one of biennials exhibitions. We discussed this method of non-formal space appropriation along with local inhabitants of former courtyard building at Gldani 7th micro-district.
Esther Kempf – Nonconventional Ways of Furniture Restoration
Zurich-based artist, Esther Kempf brings new identities to everyday objects. Nuances transform the simple things into extraordinary installations. Plants, books or different pieces of furniture adapt new meanings. At the 7th micro-district of Gldani, inhabitants of former courtyard building passed their recycled material while Esther was demonstrating the unconventional ways of repairing them. The works were exhibited for a week, until locals used them.
Zoé Perret – Experimental Vocals and Collective Improvisation
A folklorist and a musician Zoe Perret researches human voice and new methodologies of uncovering its full potential. “My approach is that anyone who can talk can sing as well. There is no specific education needed for taking part in this workshop.” – In the frames of Tbilisi Architecture Biennial, we tried to find a common voice of audience and local inhabitants by means of collective improvisation.