Time Space

EXISTENCE organized by the European Cultural Center at the 2023 Venice Architecture Biennale. Identifying with the theme: “THE

Laboratory of the

FUTURE”, the team sought to push boundaries in construction and propagate a movement of investigating the use of Food Waste as building materials.

Tea plays a role in different cultures around the world, all of which have in common that it is a catalyst for communication. The team strives to reach out to the global community and involve more in this conversation of circular design. Following the success of “Veneti-an”, “Arabi-an” was also showcased in Dubai Design Week 2023.

Veneti-An is the #001 Prototype that has been conceived while considering the following themes:

Consideration for [People to People relationships] In the wake of events such as the outbreak of Covid and ongoing Wars, today's world remains divided. Tea plays a role in different cultures around the world, all of which have in common that it is a catalyst for communication that connects people. While the influence of the pandemic has reached a limited extent, the global situation is by no means perfect. With this in mind, we wish to launch an initiative to create a space for people to connect.

Consideration for [Universality and Specificity] This project envisaged the tearoom as a Communication Space, embodying a universality that allows for implementation in different parts of the world, while also embodying its specificity towards the local context. This led to a focus on the Earth's latitude and waste produced in each country, and eventually the adaptation of waste that is characteristic of the country, as building materials to construct the Teahouse. “Veneti-an”, is an assembly of materials that are entirely bio-degradable. [Pasta and Coffee components], food common in the Italian Diet, [Lightweight-recycled paper tubes], in consideration of transportation and [Cork] as substitute for tatami mats.

The lattice structure consists of modular parts, assembled on site by the 3 Architects. It is the first prototype of a series of teahouses and embodies key motivations of Circularity, Universality and Respecting Local Context.

Climatic conditions and thermal comfort also largely vary with geographical location and latitude. Modulating the permeability according to latitude enables the quality of light and wind to be controlled and adapted appropriately to the region. Food waste familiar to locals is compressed and shaped with an algorithm that informs a geometry that matches local latitude-climatic conditions, e.g. Pasta joints angled at 45 degrees. While the design parameters are common, with different geographical locations, the latitude and waste materials change, resulting in a tea house that is distinct to its context.

Consideration for [Water] While concerns of Water Scarcity is widespread around the world, Venice, a sea-bound city, is particularly deeply acquainted with Water, with the fluctuation between drying canals and flooding caused by the Aqua Alta. Looking back in history, since humanity began building dwellings, architectural history has been marked in part by the control of water. Water-resistant materials such as wood, metal, glass, stone and tiles came into use, and buildings are made practically from the same basic materials all over the world.

In times, water has been desired while in other cases efforts were made to resist it. The structure of the Veneti-An consists of materials such as pasta and paper, both of which are extremely vulnerable to water. A new technology has been employed to enhance water resistance of these materials. Through chemical processing, it renders any organic material water-resistant properties, whilst keeping the material's natural properties to eventually decompose back into the soil. This opens vast possibilities for materials suitable for outdoor use.

Needless to say, tea is never without water, and Venetian is set in a park overlooking the lagoon. Visitors are invited to savour tea made from water, gaze out at the sight of water and be enveloped in a tea house made of a new material that resists water. Fittingly, the exhibition displays the Biennale's theme, 'Laboratories of the Future’.

Consideration for [Sustainability] Following the exhibition period, the tea house made of waste materials can be disassembled and reconstituted as furniture. The dimensions of the parts were determined on the premise of turning into furniture, or perhaps it would have been better to describe it as furniture transformed into a tea house for the duration of the exhibition only. The pieces will be reassembled into the form desired by prospective buyers and transformed into shelves and tables after the exhibition is over.

Blockchain is being considered to enable tracing of where and to whom the components were passed to after the exhibition is over. 3D data will also be shared to enable the replacement and production parts by individuals, e.g. by 3D printing. This is neither 100% manufactured nor 100% self-built, It is a piece of furniture that allows for modification and addition of a personal touch.