Making Heimat. Germany, Arrival Country

The Deutsches Architekturmuseum (DAM) curated the German Pavilion exhibition at the 15th International Architecture Exhibition 2016 – La Biennale di Venezia, under the title Making Heimat. Germany, Arrival Country. Four large openings in the walls of the German Pavilion, necessitating the removal of over 48 tons of brick from the landmark-protected walls, transformed the building into an open house.
The idea for Germany’s contribution to the Architecture Biennale originated during the turbulent weeks of autumn 2015 when, every day, thousands of refugees were arriving at stations and while the German Chancellor was sticking with an iron will to a policy of no upper limit for the number of refugees coming into the country. “Wir schaffen das” (We can do it).
Six months later, after the close of the Biennale, the openings were bricked over again. The pavilion now stands closed up and replastered for the 2017 Art Biennale.
The exhibition Making Heimat. Germany, Arrival Country was presented (04.03.2017 - 22.10.2017) on two floors at the DAM, and featured updated and expanded subject matters, as well as documentation and a review of the German Pavilion in Venice.