Wool Celebrates Its Place In The Built Environment At One of the Biggest Architectural Events
The Venice Architecture Biennale 2016!
For the first time ever wool is being celebrated at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2016, with an installation in the
New Zealand Room and a hosting event set down for September.
The Architecture Biennale kicks off on Thurs 26th with the Vernissage (an exclusive launch) and runs for six months.
This Biennale, sister to the Art Biennale, attracts over 3000 media and more than a quarter of a million global
visitors.
“This is a highly attentive and influential audience, and it’s great to see New Zealand companies with a strong design
focus appreciate the opportunities the Biennale offers,” says Teen Hale Pennington, CE, New Zealand Institute of
Architecture (NZIA).
“When approached by the NZIA to team--up with them as the wool partner for the Biennale, it was a clear ‘yes’ from the
global Campaign for Wool team,” says Mr Craig Smith, Chair, Campaign for Wool New Zealand Trust.
The Biennale attracts a global audience of architects, engineers, academics, research institutes and interior designers
-- a key target market for wool, particularly strong wool -- specifiers and innovators who are looking for not only
aesthetically pleasing but natural, sustainable, safe, strong and healthy solutions for the built environment.
“If we can get architects, interior and product designers, particularly those in wool’s growth markets, to specify wool
then we can really make a difference for wool growers and those commercialising wool innovations for the built
environment, say Mr Smith. Although the focus is on strong wool, fine wool has its place too.
Wool elements installed for the duration of the Biennale include felted yarn wool ‘rugs’, which has been transformed
into upholstery forms and 30 metres of wool felt that has been draped, elegantly and simply, to complement the high stud
and industrial walls.
The objective of Te Koha (the New Zealand Room) was to create a quiet, reflective and comfortable retreat and wool
complements this nicely with qualities such as sound absorption, humidity regulation and VOC absorption. It’s also soft,
luxurious and enduringly beautiful.
Wool’s crimp--like structure creates air pockets allowing it to ‘breathe’ keeping environments warm in winter and cool
in summer. Wool is also a great sound absorber and it cleans the air by cleverly binding and neturalising volatile
organic compounds (VOCs), such as formaldehyde. Wool’s high nitrogen content makes it naturally fire resistant.
Over 65 countries are invited to exhibit at the Biennale. It runs over six months and attracts students of architecture,
those from the well--established architectural industry and consumers interested in the built environment.
“Wool is the new ‘black’ when it comes to interiors and architecture, says Mr Smith. The Architecture Biennale is a
fantastic opportunity for wool to celebrate its place in the home and commercial space and we’re excited to be there.”
Forty four copies of Wool in Architecture and Interior Design (attached) will be distributed to guests. A hosting week
for wool will take place in the New Zealand Room during the second week of September.
ENDS