The theme of the 18th Architecture Exhibition at La Biennale di Venezia, The Laboratory of the Future, invites us to present not only the content of visions of the future, but to look instead at the places where the future is being made. For this purpose, it is apparent that we should be looking closely at schools of architecture in the country, since they are serving as the most potent laboratories of the future. They are the places where the practitioners of the future are experimenting with new scenarios, speculating about alternatives to existing orders and interrogating the past.  

It is with this in mind that we ask that you consider your school’s participation in the Political Animals design competition. The competition is an exercise in self-reflection from inside each institution in the medium of architectural representation. Simply put, it is about drawing images and creating artefacts that present institutional and/or curricular structures as architectural objects.  

The competition is conceived as a collaboration between tutors, academics and students (although students and/or teachers can also participate separately) in small groups. This collaboration would produce unique and subjective artefacts, but which are infused with objective and quantitative values as informants to design.  

In addition to a cash prize for winning entries, a selection of the most satisfying artefacts will be displayed as part of the South African Pavilion at the International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia running from May to November this year.  

Please see the brief attached for more details, dates and procedures for the competition, and feel free to contact me (or use the email address provided in the brief) should you have any questions or comments.