STUDIO VENICE
YEAR | 2018
TUTORS | Luis Hilti | Matilde Igual Capdevila | Bianca Böckle
LOCATION | Vaduz | Venice
INSTITUTION | University of Liechtenstein
Studio Venice at the University of Liechtenstein was an experimental design studio that explored how to map and intervene architecturally across an entire country. Its results were shown at the Venice Biennale in 2018.
Eighteen students undertook the ambitious task of walking a straight line across Liechtenstein, from the Swiss to the Austrian border.
Along this line, they documented their findings in "linear notebooks".
The Students engaged in architectural interventions, and carried construction materials to remote mountain sites.
Situated between two scales—1:1 design and construction and a cross-sectional analysis of Liechtenstein—it challenged students to think critically about landscapes, remoteness, and the built environment.
Walking became central to the studio, bridging observation and intervention. Days were spent traversing Liechtenstein’s diverse terrains, identifying sites for exploration, and contemplating the relationship between human activity and the environment.
The students designed, prefabricated, transported and installed their work and presented it on site, often far away from the next road or building.
This approach forced the students to interact with landscapes that are often overlooked—spaces disconnected from urban centers yet profoundly shaped by architectural and infrastructural developments.
Students engaged in hands-on architectural work while also contributing to a deeper understanding of the territory’s social, cultural, and ecological dynamics.
Studio Venice culminated in an exhibition at the Venice Biennale in 2018, where the students’ work was showcased to an international audience. Together with the students, we designed, transported and built the exhibition in several places.
The Student's works reflected the nuances of Liechtenstein’s fragmented and remote landscapes. The Biennale provided a platform to discuss the broader implications of remoteness and accessibility in contemporary urbanism.
Studio Venice was more than a studio—it was a transformative journey, a bold exploration of Liechtenstein’s landscapes, and the genesis of an institute that continues to push the boundaries of architectural and territorial research.
