Lebanese-French architect Hala Wardé is set to represent Lebanon at the upcoming Venice Biennale of Architecture.
Wardé, the founder of the Paris-based HW Architecture who was in charge of the Louvre Abu Dhabi art museum, will present the Lebanese pavilion, titled “A Roof for Silence,” in the international exhibition that will launch in May.
The theme for the event, defined by Lebanese architect Hashim Sarkis, is: “How will we live together?”
To address the concept of coexistence, Wardé has designed for the Biennale a visualization of spaces of silence, in which architecture intertwines with drawing, music, poetry, and video.
Wardé was initially selected to represent Lebanon at the Biennale in October 2019, three days before the eruption of the October 17 protests. However, the event was later postponed as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
During a press conference held last year to announce plans for the Lebanese pavilion, Jad Tabet, the pavilion’s commissioner, said that he had asked Wardé if she thought the project was still worth continuing.
He quoted her as saying in response: “To abandon it now would be betraying the Lebanese youth.”
Wardé will present the pavilion during the 17th edition of the Venice Biennale of Architecture, which will run in Venice, Italy from May 22nd until November 21st.
