Our reception, one day before the official beginning of the Biennale, successfully took place on 19 May at 6pm at BERÜHRUNGSPUNKTE at Palazzo Contarini Polignac in Venice. DIVIA’s founder Ursula Schwitalla started off the evening with a presentation about the organization and where it’s headed in the future. Four of the five finalists Liza Fior, Noella Nibakuze, Tosin Oshinowo, as well as the winner Marta Maccaglia were present and spoke about their individual architectural mission. (Unfortunately, May al-Ibrashy and Liza Fior’s studio partner Katherine Clarke could not be present.) The jury member Martha Thorne spoke on the behalf of the entire jury (also including Rahul Mehrotra, Odile Decq, and Sol Camacho, stating its role and approach in the decision-making process. She also pointed out the extraordinary effect the finalists’ work has had on architecture in their respective contexts.

The reception also included a brief presentation of the catalogue (which can be purchased online at the Hatje Cantz’s website), as well as the exhibition dedicated to all five finalists. After its successful first run in Berlin, it will now travel to BDA Wechselraum, Stuttgart (opening: 10 July 2023).

We are very grateful for this successful completion of the first cycle and are very much looking forward to the next round!