Austin Garcia – Looking Outwards – 01 – Section C

Virtual Nature by Toyo Ito Architects

I had the opportunity to visit the 2019 Venice Architecture Biennale this past year. The overall concept for the Biennale was that of ‘Freespace’ – defined by the Biennale committee as architectural space that was given back to the community, back to humanity and freed for new opportunity. I was particularly inspired by Toyo Ito’s “Virtual Nature” installation while exploring the Arsenale exhibition hall. In this installation, Toyo Ito removed a part of the space by encircling it in an opaque curtain with a single entrance. Projected along the interior wall of this curtain were many technologically generated renders of wave forms. visible from all directions on the many beanbags lining the floor, the visual intricacy of these computer generated wave forms gave a feeling of serenity and tranquility like that of being under the sea.

Through understanding of people and what spaces we enjoy, nature and its connection to us all, and technology with its infinite versatility and adaptability, Toyo Ito created a space that suggests a future where these three subjects mesh beyond what we currently can imagine.

Toyo Ito Biennale Web Entry