Padiglione Italia, 10 September – 19 November 2006

The Royal College of Art Architecture department contributed to last year’s Venice 10th International Architecture Exhibition with the theme Cities, Architecture and Society. The RCA is the only British University to be represented in the Italian Pavilion.

As one of the most cosmopolitan cities anywhere, London is transforming into Europe’s only übercity; it is now a place that belongs to the world and no longer just to Britain. Though it offers high rewards for an infinite variety of aspirations, its multi-culture is showing serious signs of strain. Is the role of architecture to help pull a disparate city together or to accentuate its differences?

Babylon:don was a coordinated selection of projects that reflect on these broad issues for London. The show was organised by a continuous east-west panorama that houses some 15 exemplary projects. Rather than solutions, they were intended as critiques or ‘mightlihoods’.

Head of Department, Professor Nigel Coates said:
“We can learn a lot about London by looking at it as Babylon. Though it has experienced a renaissance over recent years, it’s in danger of becoming over–evolved and in denial of its contradictions.”

The show featured architectural consequences of current tendencies such as the ecstatic city, the city as brand environment, idiocy as modernist critique, the cross-over of underworld and overworld, and sustainable futures with a selfish edge. Also featured in Venice were an International Design workshop entitled, ‘Learning from Cities’, coordinated by Michael Chadwick and Roberto Bottazzi.

The RCA Architecture department has 65 students, researchers and faculty at any one time, and is uniquely situated in the art and design environment of the College and as such, operates within a paradigm of the creative industries.

For further information or images please contact the RCA Media Relations Office at media@rca.ac.uk or the Architecture department at architecture@rca.ac.uk.