They demand to tear down the German Pavilion at the Venice Biennale and a new build. Do you try to dispose of the demolition of a structure of 1938, a piece of Nazi past?
This past can not and must not be disposed of, either by demolition or in other ways. I am concerned with an architectural quality, functional pavilion, can present with the Germany international is in Venice.
Is this not also and especially with a pavilion in which one has to deal with the Nazi period?
The pavilion is not a superior product of this era – not even in the negative. Curators, participants and visitors are annoyed because not primarily about the Nazi era, but with an inappropriate construction of architecture and art exhibitions. He is dark, hard and has played on the lagoon not even have a view, let alone starting and terrace. And as important as the confrontation with the Nazi period, it is not a priority issue in this place. The pavilion has the future of the biennial German contributions are not the Biennale’s history of the pavilion.
And the historical value?
The pavilion may be under Italian Heritage. But in my opinion, deserves perhaps its original form, an antique temple of Daniele Donghi from 1909, but hardly Ernst Haiger rebuilding of 1938. It would be equally wrong and cramped, keep each building of this period, as would be cramped and wrong to tear down a building just because of its origin from the Nazi period.
So away with it – regardless of the story?
Way so that when a building on the history says little. But in any case, away with central buildings of the Nazis and their crimes, such as in Berlin, Munich and in concentration camps. They bear witness to the terror regime, which must remain a matter of course.
The response to your proposal were sometimes quite violently.
Yes, there was knee-jerk suspicions that I wanted to replace a piece of Nazi past. But one must be able to discuss the quality of the building, without having him historically overused.
If you are really the only one who thinks of a demolition?
No, in conversations, I received much support from different side. An outline of the pavilion, incidentally, was also the subject of a biennial contribution of the Berlin architect Roger Bundschuh. And the University of Karlsruhe had – without that I knew this – in the winter semester 2009/2010 is organizing a trip to Venice and dealt with the question “demolition and new construction or rebuilding and growing” a factual and professional.
And what will follow?
An open competition and no later than 25j-year-old anniversary of the fall 2014 Another pavilion that exhibitors and visitors, is used to Germany’s present and future shows and is a testimony to today’s architectural culture.