…With the theme of Freespace, the Biennale Architettura 2018 presents
for public scrutiny examples, proposals, elements - built or unbuilt - of
work that exemplifies essential qualities of architecture which include the
modulation, richness and materiality of surface; the orchestration and
sequencing of movement, revealing the embodied power and beauty of
architecture.
This is the phrase with which the curators of the International Architecture
Exhibition 2018, Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara declare - within the
central part of the manifesto produced immediately after their appointment
- the main objective of their scientific project.
A consideration that presents itself as a possible synthesis of many other
definitions or declinations of the word Freespace that can be imagined
and which the manifesto contains. The founders of the Grafton Architects
explicitly ask the guests to interpret this topic, taking a position on it through
the presentation of their own work.
When the invitation at the Faculty of Architecture in Rome to participate in
the activities planned by the Biennale Sessions - already received for the
2016 edition - was renewed, we thought that some of these declinations
could represent the paths that the academic staff is developing through their
research and teaching activities in recent years