2016.10.16

This year’s iteration of the Venice Architecture Biennale set its aim at highlighting the social consciousness of architecture. By shifting the discussion from the theory driven and formal concerns of the profession, and moving away from an architecture of the spectacle, the move was lauded by many yet disconcerting for some. This talk tackles the debate that architects are not equipped to deal with social issues, highlighting the extent to which the UAE National Pavilion, through its focus on a social housing project, made a positive contribution to the discussion.