GSD faculty and students were deeply involved in multiple facets of the 2006 Venice Biennale 10th International Architecture Exhibition, whose theme was “Cities, Architecture, and Society” and focused on how architecture can determine cities’ governance and transformations and develop a harmonious social fabric. Following are some of their projects:

Through a generous donation from the Jaffe Family Foundation, three students, Ezra Block (MArch I 2006), Julie Kaufman (MArch I 2007), and Christian Stayner (MArch I 2008), interned at OMA-Rotterdam with Professor in Practice of Architecture and Urban Design Rem Koolhaas in August 2006, assisting with the production of his installation “Gulf Cities,” a coastal analysis revealing a new regional and global order of effort, conceptualization, and rivalry.

The GSD was one of 23 schools invited to participate in Learning from Cities, a workshop and exhibition for the 10th International Architecture Biennale in Venice. Devoted to a study of the challenges facing contemporary cities, the workshop was conducted as a research seminar at the GSD, beginning in September, to produce an exhibition at the Biennale on display from November 8 to 19, 2006. Farshid Moussavi, Professor in Practice of Architecture, led the seminar, assisted by Teaching Associate Michael Kubo (MArch I 2006). Ten Architecture students were enrolled.

In spring of 2006, Christian Stayner and Ki Duck Kim (MArch I 2008) won an honor award in the Architectural Record New Orleans High Density Housing Competition: After the Hurricanes. Their project was exhibited in the U.S. Pavilion at the Biennale, after which the installation will be mounted in Bangkok, Guangzhou, Panama, Vietnam, and an expo at the new Fiera Milano by Fuksas. The installation of their project at the Biennale was made possible in part by a donation from the Jaffe Family Foundation.