The Republic of Rwanda is taking part in Venice Architecture Biennale for the first time. The Republic of Rwanda is going to use its place at the event to highlight the strategy for environmental sustainability that they are in the process of creating by using natural materials in construction and by banning the use of plastic bags throughout the country. They will be holding a number of meetings and workshops under the title of 'Tradition and innovation in vegetable fibres' design, a series of workshops and meetings on design and architecture with a special focus on Rwanda and Burkina Faso to introduce their research with a focus on Rwanda Burkina Faso. Gaddo Morpurg the curator and commissioner of the pavilion spared some time to answer our questions.

Could you please explain how you arrived at the concept? I would like to hear about the process from the beginning to the final idea.
At the Biennale di Venezia, Rwanda is presenting the results of work developed over the last two years by Atelier Rwanda which is a research centre on design in Africa. The exhibition concentrates on the single products which have emerged from the work: jewellery made from natural fibres and building materials made from banana and coffee wood exploiting their unique characteristics.

What visual and spatial tools will you use to manifest this concept?
For organisational reasons our work is being shown in two exhibitions. One at the Fondazione Claudio Buziol where visitors can see the individual items on displays specially designed for the project, and one at the Magazzini Ligabue, headquarters of the IUAV University in Venice where, starting with the African proverb which says "the best time to plant a tree is 30 years ago", we have produced trees made from rattan and bamboo and we have documented the process of collaboration between the IUAV and African countries.

What do you hope people will say and think when they come out of the pavilion?
That Africa is emerging from an "ethnic" vision of the project to invest in research that can promote the use of local materials and traditional techniques.

How do you personally experience Biennales? Do you think they area useful way of presenting ideas?
In the early 1980s I had my first experience at the Biennale and I still believe its one of the most important opportunities to view international work on the themes of the project.

What are the major issues facing Rwandan architecture at the moment?
At the present time Rwanda is focused on two paths: Education, with the opening of the first Faculty for Architecture at the KIST in Kigali, and the promotion of the use of natural materials in the building industry.


Rwanda Pavilion, Tradition and innovation in vegetable fibres
Commissioner: Gaddo Morpurgo
Curators: Bettina Scholl-Sabbatini, Gaddo Morpurgo