REPUBLIC of
COMMON GROUND
un-common News
un-common Venice
About
Departing from Venice
At the 13th International Architecture Exhibition in Venice, which has ‘Common Ground’ as its theme, Günther Vogt’s exhibition piece takes Venice itself as the starting point. It examines public space, understood as being the commons, caught in the conflict between resource and utilization. By interviewing the local residents and tourists in various public places all over Venice, the intention is to present a subjective perception of the local ‘resource’ and its regulatory framework in relation to everyday life. The results of the hidden
surveys will be translated into the language of the kiosk where this un-common view will be offered to passersby in Venice in the form of newspapers, maps, postcards, etc.. As the smallest building in the city, the kiosk is open to the widest possible section of the general public, and will thereby establish a dialogue between the city and the Biennale, as admission is free to all - firmly rooted in the common ground of the city.
Theme
un-common Venice
What do a turquoise-coloured kiosk with all sorts of curios, posters in the city with unusual statements and a cup of water have in common? You will not find any answers on the corner of Via Garibaldi and Riva dei Sette Martiri, instead you get a hidden
couple of questions in return and the renaissance of a public space that has been closed for a long time: An everyday kiosk that reveals an unfamiliar Venice.
Get a cup of water for free in the city’s Common Ground at the kiosk on the corner of Via Garibaldi and Riva dei Sette Martiri.
A small, turquoise-coloured kiosk on the corner of Via Garibaldi
and Riva dei Sette Martiri has been attracting the attention of
passersby and visitors at this year’s Architecture Biennale ever
since the 25th of August. Maybe this is just because you can get
a cup of drinking water there for free?! It certainly brings many
people in, away from the blazing August sun, for a welcome
refreshment.
The kiosk is part of a project by Günther Vogt adopted at the 13th
International Architecture Exhibition in Venice, which devotes itself
to the topic of “Common Ground”. Günther Vogt’s contribution takes the
topic literally, whereby he sees the public space as common land
(‘commons’) and has examined this accordingly with regard to the
relationship between resources and utilization. Venice seems to be a
suitable paradigm for this observation because of the clear separation
of public and private space, and because of the tension between local
and global use - against a backdrop of the critical question of a
potential overuse by mass tourism (see ‘Tragedy of the commons’).
An attempt was made by means of a pedestrian survey conducted at
various public places throughout the city with the help of student
from the IUAV (University of Venice) to identify a hidden
differentiated perception of the “resource of Venice” and its regulatory framework
in relation to everyday life. It dealt with the question of how this
place is used, assimilated and mentally conceived, how one gets about
there and orients oneself, and what its specific characteristics and
qualities are. The understanding of Venice, respectively of the public
space as the “commons”, and the focus on the subjective perspective of
users - from local residents to the global day-trippers – should, as
it were, open up an unusual view of Venice (“uncommon Venice”)
stemming from an everyday perception and familiar events.
An initial, low-profile occupation of the urban space takes place
from August to December with posters that address the residents
and tourists in all the languages of the countries participating
in the Biennale. The posters launch the public debate with statements
and questions on the subject of common ground.
A second occupation takes place over the period of the Biennale with
the running of an existing kiosk in Venice, located at the corner of
Via Giuseppe Garibaldi and the Riva dei Sette Martiri. This type of kiosk,
of which there are only a few in Venice, hidden
is a formal reminder of the Islamic roots of this kind of small-scale architecture.
There were small street kiosks during the time of the Ottoman Empire from the
early 16th century, which served as a public fountain house, because under
Islamic law, the supply of the urban population with safe drinking water was
one of the duties of the ruling families and wealthy individuals. There used
to be a servant inside the fountain houses, who would serve out free drinking
water to the passersby. As water is one of the most important public assets
(commons), this tradition has been resumed.
The kiosk also serves as a communication and presentation platform for the
results of the pedestrian surveys. The findings derived from the surveys will
be translated into the language of the kiosks, where this unfamiliar side of
Venice will be sold in the form of newspapers, postcards, maps, etc.. The
inventory of the kiosk will be supplemented by contributions from students
and friends from the fields of architecture, art and design, whereby the kiosk
will become the common platform for a diversity of views and opinions on the
‘un-common Venice’. All the articles in the kiosk will be given to the passersby
hidden
on the condition that they participate in
the survey, thus making them a part of the project.
In the context of the Biennial Exhibition at the Corderie there is only the more
abstract, empty shell of the kiosk from the Via Garibaldi, in which the copper
surface reflects the posters mounted on the exhibition walls. The installation
in the Corderie is therefore the reflector and archive of the ‘real’ common
grounds in the city outside.
Without wanting to see the kiosk as an allegory for public space or the city,
it seems suitable to us as a strategy and common platform: As the guardian of
trivia, it thrives on the juxtaposition of variety wherein every little thing
has its own identity, but the quality is first created when it is combined in
the context of diversity in the smallest of spaces. In an unruffled summation
of necessities, the everyday and the specific, mediating between local and
global, diverse, colourful and seductive.
Turkish pump room ‘sebil’ from the 16th century in Istanbul (photo: Godfrey Goodwin)
The occupied kiosk in Venice, located at the intersection of Via Garibaldi and Riva dei Sette Martiri.
Model for the kiosk in the Corderie.
Inventory
Inventory of the Republic
of Common Ground
The inventory of the Republic of Common Ground consists of contributions from the Case
Studio VOGT and articles by students and friends from the fields of architecture, art and design.
A large part of the kiosk products come from a competition, which was announced at the
ETH Zurich, University of Venice, the UDK Berlin and in the offices of Vogt Landscape
Architecture Ltd. The aim was to discover an un-common hidden
Venice based on subjective perspectives
and to translate this into the language of the kiosk. The item could be freely created
using materials and technology.
Unless otherwise indicated, all the items of the Republic of Common Ground at our kiosk in
the city on the corner of Via Garibaldi / Riva dei Sette Martiri can be purchased. Payment is
by way of participation in our survey. In addition, there is the option of ordering the items here.
Minimum order value 10€.
The buyer bears the full shipping costs.
1
1
The Compas of Venice
Tom Griffiths
All roads lead to St. Mark’s
Square.
Available at the kiosk and on the Internet
2€ – order via mail
2
2
Fox Pipe
Leon Eixenberger
A chance to meet the wild
side of Venice!
Available at the kiosk and on the Internet
10€ – order via mail
3
3
Greetings from Venice!
Li Xiang
The ubiquitous postcard.
Available at the kiosk and on the Internet
2€ – order via mail
4
4
La Serenissima
Scott Lloyd, Sean Blem
Rediscover the old Venice.
Available on the Internet
40€ – order via mail
5
5
The landscape behind the city
Katja Ries, Claudia Köllner
Leave the city in search of the
landscape.
Available at the kiosk and on the Internet
8€ – order via mail
6
6
Newspaper ‘Republic of Common Ground’
Case Studio VOGT,
Design Samuel Bänziger
Un-common News of un-common
Venice.
Available at the kiosk, on the Internet and at the Biennale
for free – order via mail
7
7
Common Ground Map
Fabio Bernasconi
Venice under a different light.
Available on the Internet
30€ – order via mail
8
8
Posters
Case Studio VOGT,
Design Dafi Kühne
Multilingual Common Ground.
You can see them at the Biennale and in the City of Venice - Available on the Internet
350€ – order via mail
9
9
Map compass
Andreas Boden
An uncommon Way to find
your way through Venice.
Available at the kiosk and on the Internet
5€ – order via mail
10
10
Upwelling map
Manuel Hitz, Dominik Noli
Venice completed unfurled.
Available at the kiosk and on the Internet
4€ – order via mail
11
11
Views of kiosks
Case Studio VOGT
What else is there to say?
Available at the kiosk and on the Internet
2€ – order via mail
12
12
Postcards: Posters - work description
Case Studio VOGT
Choose your language and
statement.
Available at the kiosk, on the Internet and at the Biennale
for free – order via mail
13
13
Venice - the Unattainable
Kathrin Haltiner
So far and yet so close.
Available at the kiosk and on the Internet
10€ – order via mail
14
14
Venice in 89 days
Case Studio VOGT
Follow the mental maps of
local inhabitants and tourists.
Available at the kiosk and on the Internet
10€ – order via mail
15
15
Passport - Citizen of the Common Ground
Lars Müller and
Case Studio VOGT
Become a citizen of the largest
state in the world.
Available at the kiosk and on the Internet
5€ – order via mail
16
16
Follow me
Eva Willenegger
The devil is in the detail.
Available at the kiosk and on the Internet
2€ – order via mail
17
17
Se souvenir, pour revenir - revenir, pour se souvenir
Florian Ringli
Image and construction.
Available at the kiosk and on the Internet
10€ – order via mail
18
18
Venice is exhausted.
Simon Kroll, Johannes Heine
Take a seat!
Available at the kiosk and on the Internet
8€ – order via mail
19
19
Get a different impression of Venice.
Sonja Flury
The impressive Take-Away.
Available at the kiosk and on the Internet
2€ – order via mail
20
20
El arcumbè fabiògo
Fabio Strub
For hunters and gatherers.
Available at the kiosk and on the Internet
2€ – order via mail
21
21
The Stones of Venice
Rebecca Bornhauser
John Ruskin made easy.
Available at the kiosk and on the Internet
3€ – order via mail
22
22
Everyvenice
Sandro Murchini
Did you like Venice - then
come visit us in Annecy,
Stockholm …
Available at the kiosk and on the Internet
2€ – order via mail
23
23
Business cards
Case Studio VOGT
The uncommon way to
introduce yourself.
Provided for you
for free – order via mail
24
24
Homage to Polo
Scott Lloyd, Guillaume
Othenin-Girard
A legend made of silk.
Available at the kiosk and on the Internet
10€ – order via mail
25
25
Acqua Alta
Tom Griffiths
So that you’re not up to your
neck in water.
Available at the kiosk and on the Internet
2€ – order via mail
26
26
Do not feed the pigeons
Tom Griffiths
The secret fast food for
pigeons.
Available at the kiosk and on the Internet
2€ – order via mail
27
27
Fanding
Agnese Saggia
For a cool head and stomach.
Available at the kiosk and on the Internet
5€ – order via mail
28
28
Eau de Toilette
Marc Frochaux
The irresistible fragrance of the
lagoon. Für Thomas und andere
Männer.
Available at the kiosk and on the Internet
5€ – order via mail
29
29
Sea-spray-away
Kathrin Füglister
Spray the sea level
of Venice.
Available at the kiosk and on the Internet
5€ – order via mail
30
30
Memoria di Venezia - Una Scatola di Impressioni
Hannes Gutberlet
Remember your personal
Venice in a playful way.
Available at the kiosk and on the Internet
5€ – order via mail
31
31
Free Day Pass to the City of Venice
Berte Daan, Nelly Pilz
Visit the largest museum
in Italy!
Available at the kiosk and on the Internet
2€ – order via mail
32
32
An ode to Lodoli
Scott Lloyd, Sean Blem
Views of a Venetian monk.
Available at the kiosk and on the Internet
not for sale
33
33
Cyanometer
Macarena Ruiz-Tagle
Determine the skies over
Venice.
Available at the kiosk and on the Internet
2€ – order via mail
34
34
Some pigeons are more equal than others
Julius von Bismarck,
Julian Charrière
Pigeons?
Available at the kiosk and on the Internet
2€ – order via mail
Press release
Press Release
Opinion & Debate
09 November
a touching diary...
a touching diary...
29 August
Kiosk in the city's Common Ground
Occupied kiosk at the corner of Via Garibaldi and Riva dei Sette Martiri - firmly rooted in the common ground of the city. As the smallest building in the city, the kiosk is open to the widest possible section of the general public, and will thereby establish a dialogue between the city and the Biennale, as admission is free to all.
Kiosk in the city's Common Ground
Occupied kiosk at the corner of Via Garibaldi and Riva dei Sette Martiri - firmly rooted in the common ground of the city. As the smallest building in the city, the kiosk is open to the widest possible section of the general public, and will thereby establish a dialogue between the city and the Biennale, as admission is free to all.
28 August
Kiosk in the Arsenale
Copper-Kiosk in the Arsenale with newspapers, drinking-cups, posters and postcards. In the context of the Biennial Exhibition at the Corderie there is only the more abstract, empty shell of the kiosk from the Via Garibaldi, in which the copper surface reflects the posters mounted on the exhibition walls. The installation in the Corderie is therefore the reflector and archive of the ‘real’ common grounds in the city outside.
Kiosk in the Arsenale
Copper-Kiosk in the Arsenale with newspapers, drinking-cups, posters and postcards. In the context of the Biennial Exhibition at the Corderie there is only the more abstract, empty shell of the kiosk from the Via Garibaldi, in which the copper surface reflects the posters mounted on the exhibition walls. The installation in the Corderie is therefore the reflector and archive of the ‘real’ common grounds in the city outside.
27 August
Under Construction
Delivery and mounting of the kiosk for the Arsenale.
Under Construction
Delivery and mounting of the kiosk for the Arsenale.
26 August
Production Posters
Posters by Case Studio VOGT, five different posters in 34 languages (all the languages of the participants of this year's Architecture Biennale in Venice). Design and production: handmade by Dafi Kühne.
Production Posters
Posters by Case Studio VOGT, five different posters in 34 languages (all the languages of the participants of this year's Architecture Biennale in Venice). Design and production: handmade by Dafi Kühne.
25 August
Newspaper
Newspaper 'Republic of Common Ground', print run: 20 000 italian, 20 000 english / Editors: Günther Vogt, Rebecca Bornhauser, Nicola Eiffler, Thomas Kissling / Design: Samuel Bänziger, Bänziger Hug GmbH
Newspaper
Newspaper 'Republic of Common Ground', print run: 20 000 italian, 20 000 english / Editors: Günther Vogt, Rebecca Bornhauser, Nicola Eiffler, Thomas Kissling / Design: Samuel Bänziger, Bänziger Hug GmbH
24 August
13th International Architecture Exhibition
The 13th International Architecture Exhibition titled Common Ground, directed by David Chipperfield and organized by la Biennale di Venezia chaired by Paolo Baratta, will open to the public from Wednesday August 29th until Sunday November 25th 2012, at the Giardini della Biennale and at the Arsenale. The Preview will take place on August 27th and 28th, the awards ceremony and inauguration will be held on Wednesday August 29th, 2012.
13th International Architecture Exhibition
The 13th International Architecture Exhibition titled Common Ground, directed by David Chipperfield and organized by la Biennale di Venezia chaired by Paolo Baratta, will open to the public from Wednesday August 29th until Sunday November 25th 2012, at the Giardini della Biennale and at the Arsenale. The Preview will take place on August 27th and 28th, the awards ceremony and inauguration will be held on Wednesday August 29th, 2012.