After the 18th Architecture Biennale, the Czech Republic will send a laboratory showcasing the problems of young architects

Prague – At the 18th International Architecture Biennale in Venice in 2023, the Czech Republic will be represented by a project working title The Laboratory of No-More Precarious Future. The work by young curators and architects Karolína Plášková and Eliška Pomyjová, along with designer and educator Jan Netušil, highlights the challenges faced by young architects in the architectural profession today. The National Gallery (NG) Prague announced an open call for participation in the biennale in May. Today, NG spokesperson Eva Sochorová informed ČTK about it.

The selected solution addresses the issues of the architectural profession today. This includes, for example, the number of overtime hours, nighttime work, lack of social security, or unpaid internships. In the exhibition space, they will reconstruct a disturbing environment of an architectural office connected to the online environment. A website will provide data visualizations and serve as a forum for the public. A publication will summarize international research on the topic.

"We were looking for the most suitable concept on the theme of the laboratory of the future, which would stand out on the international stage. Our goal is to put the Czech Republic back on the map of architecture. The toxicity of the architectural profession's environment is undoubtedly such a topic. The outcome is a consensus of a wide spectrum of views on the discipline with a crossover into contemporary art," stated Alicja Knastová, the general director of NG.

"We cannot design a better world in a toxic environment; this is the central theme of the winning contribution. Issues of working conditions and exploitation are key to the discipline of architecture. We believe that this project will help pave the way for a fairer architecture and a more socially equal profession," the jury of the open call stated.

The International Architecture Biennale in Venice is a showcase of contemporary architecture and current architectural trends. It will take place in the Italian city from May 20 to November 20 next year, alternating with the Biennale of Visual Arts.