A bright yellow ‘beacon’ amongst the gardens of Venice. Three hundred exquisite ‘architectural sculptures’, a garden of all shapes, sizes and materials. A ‘passeggiata’* through an eclectic array of eccentric Australian buildings.

The Australian Pavilion at the 11th Venice Architecture Biennale has opened to a positive reception from thousands of international architects and critics, plus 300 leading Australian architects attending the professional preview.

Australian Institute of Architects National President Howard Tanner said: “Venice – one of the world’s exotic cities – provides, in the Biennale, a global focus for all architectural activity. Our pavilion, painted bright yellow, showcases over 180 practices in a remarkable explosion of Australian creativity. A glorious moment for Australian architecture.”

The Australian Pavilion’s Creative Directors, Neil Durbach, Vince Frost, Wendy Lewin, Kerstin Thompson and Gary Warner, said: “We are delighted that the exhibition, of models and immersive projections, has been so well received in this prestigious context. Our pavilion challenges the Biennale theme ‘Out There: Architecture Beyond Building’ - as both models and projections emphasise buildings as a beginning for further speculation and the necessary reference for thinking and rethinking architecture.”

Australian Louise Cox, president of the International Union of Architects said: “The yellow pavilion reflects the youthfulness of Australia and I love the show and how the space has been used. I am looking forward to another strong presence in 2010.”

Preview visitors to the pavilion included Paolo Baratta the President of the Biennale and Aaron Betsky the director of the 11th International Exhibition. Philip Follent, recently appointed Queensland Government Architect, was one of three speakers at a Royal Institute of British Architects seminar “Off Centre’ chaired by the Sunday Times architecture critic Hugh Pearman at the Scottish pavilion last Thursday.

Correspondents from leading international architecture/arts magazines such as The Architecture Newspaper, Detail, Domus, Abitare, Archnews, Flash Art, Casabella, Casamica, D’architettura, arte, werk bauen + wohnen, RIBA Journal, bd and Metropolis visited the pavilion. International curators, media and architects commented on the sensitively and beautifully displayed ‘jewel box’ installation of Australian buildings.

Australia’s Biennale Commissioner Lucy Turnbull officially opened the Pavilion on Thursday 11 September and thanked sponsors Virgin Atlantic Airways, Austral Bricks, Bassett, Zip Industries, Valad Property Group, Dulux, Lend Lease, Bellevarde Constructions, Euroluce Australia, Architecture Media, Cafe Di Stasio, over 35 Network Venice members and the Australia Council for the Arts who provided the pavilion.

* a leisurely stroll

The Architecture Biennale was inaugurated in 1980 and is now held every two years. More than 130,000 people are expected to visit the Biennale, which runs until 23 November 2008.

Neil Durbach, Vince Frost, Wendy Lewin, Kerstin Thompson and Gary Warner are the creative team. Lucy Turnbull is Australia’s Commissioner. The Australian Pavilion was designed by Philip Cox and built in 1988.

Preview: 11-13 September 2008
Exhibition: 14 September - 23 November 2008

For more information please visit: labiennale.org/en/architecture - official site, English version