Architecture should be guided by sustainability, beauty, and inclusion, said the head of the EC

Venice – Architecture in Europe should be guided by the principles of sustainability, beauty, and inclusion. This was stated today by the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen during her speech at the Venice Architecture Biennale. According to her, these principles form the core of the new European Bauhaus and are inspired by the legacy of the Venetian Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio.

The new European Bauhaus is an initiative of the European Commission that aims to connect art and creativity with scientific knowledge. According to von der Leyen, the legacy of the Venetian architect Palladio served as inspiration in the architectural section, whose buildings influenced architecture for many centuries after his death. "Palladio rediscovered the ancient Latin idea that a perfect building must be durable, useful, and beautiful," said von der Leyen.

According to her, the current demand for durability can be seen as ecological sustainability, as it allows buildings to endure through time. "The second principle is beauty," said von der Leyen, who believes that sustainable buildings must also be able to "evoke emotions." She labeled the third principle of the new architecture as inclusion, as "beauty and sustainability must be accessible to all."

The President of the European Commission visited Venice today after arriving in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna on Thursday, which has been hit hard by devastating floods in its southern part. Referring to the floods at the biennale, she stated that there is a need to restore "the balance between nature and the built environment." According to some experts, uncontrolled development contributed to the destructive effects of heavy rainfall in the Italian region.

Von der Leyen described Venice as a jewel of European cultural heritage, threatened by climate change. According to her, the three architectural principles mentioned could contribute to its preservation.

The theme of this year's biennale is the conditions and possibilities that architecture has to influence the future. According to curator Lesley Lokko, a Ghanaian architect, creators from Africa are significantly represented at this year's exhibition. The Czech Republic also has its national pavilion at the biennale, focusing on the working conditions faced by architects at the beginning of their careers. The biennale runs until the end of November.