The Fondation Cartier Conversations at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia accompanies the public programme of conversations The Museum as site of architectural experimentation hosted at Fondazione Cini on the occasion of the exhibition “The Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain by Jean Nouvel”, Collateral Event of the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia. Convening architects and museum professionals, these conversations question the museum’s role in fostering the future of the architectural discipline whilst nurturing a dynamic exchange about the role of architects and architecture in shaping the cultural policy of museums.
You can listen to the episodes on FondationCartier.com, and KoozArch's Spotify and Apple podcasts.
EP 01 | Welcome from the Curator: the Fondation Cartier Conversations at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia with Béatrice Grenier.
In the first episode, Fondation Cartier’s Director of Strategic Project and International Programs Béatrice Grenier sits down with KoozArch’s founder Federica Zambeletti to discuss how, since its creation in 1984 the Fondation Cartier has placed architecture and design at the heart of its identity both in terms of site but also programming. Touching upon both the museum’s new building, designed by Jean Nouvel, and upcoming cultural programme in between temporary exhibitions, conversations and other both physical and digital exchanges, the conversation highlights the museum's role in cultural experimentation and the importance of architecture in fostering interdisciplinary dialogue.
EP 02 | Dynamic Architectures with Elizabeth Diller, Jean Nouvel, and Mark Wigley; Introduced by Chris Dercon and Béatrice Grenier
In this second episode, we first tune in to hear from Fondation Cartier’s General Director, Chris Dercon and Director of Strategic Project and International Programs, Béatrice Grenier who introduce Nouvel's new building for the Fondation Cartier in the heart of Paris at 2 Place du Palais-Royal. Presented as a "Belvedere" the new museum space sits within a lineage of dynamic architecture which have characterised the city of Paris, from Gordon Matta Clark “Conical Intersect” to “OMA’s Lafayette Anticipations”, as well as from wider architectural imaginaries as Cedric Price’s “Fun Palace” amongst others. Moderated by Mark Wigley, the conversation between Jean Nouvel and Elizabeth Diller then explores the potential of dynamic architectures in relation to museum spaces, suggesting that rather than simply being above moveable elements, dynamic architecture should provoke and challenge.
EP | 03 Cultural Infrastructure for urban transformation with Andrés Jaque, Joshua Ramus and Antoine Picon.
In the third episode, moderated by Antoine Picon, architects Andrés Jaque and Joshua Ramus focus on the role of architecture in urban transformation and cultural policy, emphasising the need for museums to support innovative human activities and adapt to new urban narratives, including climate and ecological concerns. Highlighting the importance of specificity over universal flexibility in architectural design, and citing examples like the Power Station of Art in Shanghai, both architects agreed that architecture should facilitate eco-social articulation and responsiveness to contemporary issues.
Upcoming episodes include:
EP | 04 The Architectural Layers of the Museum with Giovanna Borasi, Cecilia Puga and Manuel Segade. (to be released on 6th of June)
EP | 05 Rethinking Pavilions as Potential Museums with Chris Dercon, Nicolas Fayad and Lina Ghotmeh. (to be released on the 13th of June)
Stay tuned!
Bios
Chris Dercon is an art historian, curator and the Director of the Fondation Cartier pour l’Art Contemporain. He has been managing cultural institutions since 1988 when he began his career as program director of PS1 New York to then direct the Witte de With (Melly Kunsinstituut), the Boijmans van Beuningen in Rotterdam, the Haus der Kunst in Munich, the Tate Modern in London,the Volksbuhne Theater in Berlin, the Grand Plais Réunion des Musée Nationaux in Paris,. Dercon has also worked as a teacher, critic and journalist.
Elizabeth Diller is a partner of Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DS+R). Alongside partner Ricardo Scofidio, Diller’s cross-genre work has been distinguished with TIME’s "100 Most Influential People" list and the first MacArthur Foundation fellowship awarded in the field of architecture. Her significant cultural and civic works in New York include the High Line, the transformation of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the renovation and expansion of the Museum of Modern Art and The Shed. Her design for the V&A East Storehouse in London will be opening later this month. Diller is a member of the UN Council on Urban Initiatives and a Professor of Architectural Design at Princeton University.
Béatrice Grenier is a Paris-based curator, writer and editor. She is currently the Director of Strategic Projects & International Programs at the Fondation Cartier. Beyond her work with Fondation Cartier, Béatrice is also collaborating with Professor Aziza Chaouni on a research project about expanding heritage in the UNESCO world heritage city of StoneTown, Tanzania as well as being the Paris desk editor of ArtAsiaPacific. Her new book, Architecture for Culture: Rethinking Museums will be published by Rizzoli in the Fall of 2025.
Andrés Jaque is Dean and Professor at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation (GSAPP). He is the founder of the New York- and Madrid-based architecture practice Office for Political Innovation (OFFPOLINN) which works at the intersection of research, architectural design, and activism. Jaque is the recipient of the Frederick Kiesler Prize for Architecture and the Arts (2016), the Silver Lion 14th Venice Architecture Biennale (2014), the Dionisio Hernández Gil Prize (2001–2006), among other recognitions.
Jean Nouvel is an architect and the principal of Atelier Jean Nouvel, the architectural firm he established in 1970. Nouvel’s contextual approach and ability to infuse a genuine uniqueness into all the projects he undertakes have consistently yielded buildings that transform their environments and indelibly mark the cities in which they are built. Nouvel has received numerous accolades, including the Pritzker Prize in 2008.
Antoine Picon is an engineer, architect, and historian, and currently serves as the G. Ware Travelstead Professor of the History of Architecture and Technology at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. A member of both the French Academy of Technology and the French Academy of Architecture, he was also Chairman of the Fondation Le Corbusier from 2013 to 2024. Antoine Picon’s scholarship centers on the evolving relationship between architecture, cities, and technology, with particular emphasis on the imaginary and utopian dimensions of design.
Joshua Ramus is the founding principal of REX, an internationally acclaimed architecture and design firm based in New York City. Advocating for architecture that actively empowers its users and communities, Joshua’s work redefines building paradigms and reinforces the social agency of design. Over his 29-year career, he has led globally recognised projects, is the recipient of the Action Maverick Award and was the first American to receive the Marcus Prize. His work has earned accolades including two AIA National Honor Awards and Time Magazine’s Building of the Year.
Mark Wigley is Professor of Architecture at Columbia University. He is a historian, theorist, and critic who explores the intersection of architecture, art, philosophy, culture, and technology. Wigley publishes extensively and has curated exhibitions at MoMA, The Drawing Center, Witte de With, Het Nieuwe Instituut, the Canadian Centre for Architecture, and the Power Station of Art in Shanghai.
Federica Zambeletti is the founder and managing director of KoozArch. She is an architect, researcher and storyteller whose interests lie at the intersection between art, architecture and regenerative practices. In 2022 Federica founded KoozArch with the ambition of creating a space where to research, explore and discuss architecture beyond the limits of its built form. Prior to dedicating her full attention to KoozArch, Federica collaborated with the architecture studio and non-profit agency for change UNA/UNLESS working on numerous cultural projects and the research of "Antarctic Resolution".
