David Chipperfield chosen to curate Venice Architecture Biennale

David Chipperfield has been chosen to curate the Venice Biennale in 2012.

The British architect, who recently spoke to Yale design students about the challenges of working in architecture in modern society, has been picked to oversee the 2012 Biennale, the world’s largest architecture exhibition.

His appointment, although not yet officially announced, was reported by the Guardian and Building Design this month, and will see him challenged with conceiving two separate themed shows. The architect, “renowned for his cool, clear almost chaste design”, will have only eight months to design a theme for shows in both the Arsenale and Giardini.

Chipperfied rises to the challenge

Chipperfield has received much acclaim throughout his career, particularly his recent gallery building for Turner Contemporary, which offers impressive views for visitors and artists’ work overlooking the North Kent coast.

Turner describes the work as a “welcoming, accessible and spacious building, both functional and efficient for a small arts organisation to run and a building that our visitors and our artists will enjoy being in.”

The dean of architecture at the RCA, Alex de Rijke, told Building Design: "Someone of his intellectual calibre will rise to the challenge. He's not going to use it as an opportunity to promote his own architecture. He is going to frame an issue, treat it as research and ask people to contribute."

A respectable candidate

Chipperfield’s appointment is being seen as respectable compared to the original contender for the Biennale director’s post, Giulio Malgara, a friend of Silvio Berlusconi. Chipperfield was reportedly reluctant to accept his position because of Malgara’s consideration for the role.

Indeed, Malgara was announced as the director of the event in October and would have replaced his predecessor Paolo Baratta, but Berlusconi’s resignation as Italy’s prime minister has seen Malgara’s esteem fall.

Now, the British architect is widely heralded as a smart choice. He will curate the exhibition in its 13^th year, following an increase in visitors of 31 per cent in November this year. Over 170,000 people are expected to attend the festival between August and November in 2012.

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