To the exhibition of David Chipperfield in Vicenza

Two weeks before the gates of the 16th International Biennale in Venice opened, an exhibition titled “David Chipperfield Architects Works 2018“ was launched in nearby Vicenza, which presents the work of a single studio, yet it can boldly compete with all of the exhibits in the Venetian Arsenale and Giardini combined. Nine years have passed since David Chipperfield's last major retrospective “From Matters“ at the Design Museum in London. During this time, Chipperfield's portfolio has grown with dozens of new works that you can enjoy on the grounds of Palladio's basilica on a grand scale.

So far, nine architects have had the opportunity to exhibit their work in this breathtaking Renaissance space (e.g. Tadao Ando in 1995, Álvaro Siza in 2000, Steven Holl in 2003). The most recent studio that managed to present its work under the inverted wooden ship was the Japanese SANAA in 2006. Subsequently, the Basilica Palladiana in Vicenza closed for a long five years for a complete reconstruction. During the renovations, architectural exhibitions moved to Palazzo della Ragione in nearby Padua. This magnificent space, which can easily be mistaken for Palladio's later building, gradually hosted other significant names in world architecture (e.g. Kengo Kuma in 2008, Zaha Hadid in 2010, Renzo Piano in 2014).

The first major architectural exhibition in the reopened Basilica Palladiana is an exhibit showcasing seventeen current projects from David Chipperfield's studio. The choice of the first exhibition after the Basilica Palladiana's reconstruction (which has been on the UNESCO list since 1994 and won the European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage in 2014) rightly went to British architect David Chipperfield, who won the European Mies van der Rohe Award in 2011 for the reconstruction and extension of the New Museum in Berlin (a large-format photo of this building by Candida Höfer is placed at the head of the exhibition's longitudinal axis in Vicenza), and now Chipperfield's Berlin office is engaged in the reconstruction of Mies' New National Gallery, which is one of the most significant buildings of the second half of the last century in Germany (prior to the long-term closure of Mies' gallery, David Chipperfield organized a farewell exhibition titled “Sticks and Stones“ at the end of 2014).

That this is not the work of one man is evidenced right at the entrance billboard and the cover of the catalog, which lists the names of dozens of employees and interns working in the London, Berlin, Milan, and Shanghai offices. Filling a space of more than a thousand square meters with a vaulted ceiling is a challenge for anyone. How to present one's work in a hall designed five hundred years ago by one of the greatest Italian architects? How to convey buildings located on other continents in a completely different environment and cultural conditions to visitors in a single hall? Chipperfield opted for large models that literally engulf you. It is not just about the final custom-made wooden models, but to a great extent also includes working models made of the cheapest polystyrene. At the end of the hall are, on the other hand, expensive material samples of interiors at a scale of 1:20 for boutiques of the fashion brand Valentino, where one can directly experience the exclusivity and craftsmanship that have accompanied Chipperfield's work from the very beginning.

Chipperfield, who established his practice over thirty years ago in London, has always been fascinated by materials, their physical presence, and the need for direct contact. Although today the studio operates on a global scale, it has managed to maintain a handwriting that reflects local demands and customs. His current work is easily accepted in the conservative environments of historical centers of European metropolises as well as in the dynamically growing Asian megacities. In terms of reconstructions, his studio charts a path in preserving the existing state and, if necessary, uncompromisingly integrating contemporary elements.

While some authors would struggle to think about what to fill the space of Palladio's basilica with, Chipperfield had to make do with presenting only a fraction of his current work. Iconic and award-winning structures from earlier periods are missing from the exhibition. Current projects also had to pass through a significant sieve (including the winning project for the Nobel Center in Stockholm), whereas some works are presented to the public for the very first time at the exhibition (a private museum in Laah, Slovenia).

Part of the opening of the exhibition was also Chipperfield's introductory lecture at Palladio's Teatro Olympico and the transformation of a nearby quarry, Cava Arcari in Zovencedo, into a concert hall where minimalist composer Michael Nyman performed.