Venice pavilion shortlist announced

Six architectural practices have been shortlisted by the Australia Council for the Arts to redevelop the Australian pavilion in Venice.

The practices shortlisted are as follows:

• Bud Brannigan Architects 
• Denton Corker Marshall 
• John Wardle Architects 
• Johnson Pilton Walker 
• Peter Stutchbury Architecture 
• Sean Godsell Architects

This shortlist completes the first stage of a two-stage selection process endorsed by the Australian Insitute of Architects. The selection panel received sixty-seven expressions of interest from which six practices were chosen, based on their demonstrated capability, suitability, experience and skills to undertake the project.

As part of the second and final stage, the shortlisted practices will be invited to submit a comprehensive tender proposal against a design brief that has been informed by discussions with artists, curators and key stakeholders, and reviewed and endorsed by the Australian Institute of Architects.

For this first stage, the panel included Luca Belgiorno-Nettis (Transfield Holdings and Biennale of Sydney), Doug Hall (Australian Commissioner for the Venice Biennale 2011), Kathy Keele (Australia Council for the Arts), Simon Mordant (Australian Commissioner for Venice Biennale 2013 and chair of Museum of Contemporary Art), and Brian Zulaikha (Australian Institute of Architects and Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects). The panel will be joined by Lesley Alway (Asialink Arts) and Penelope Seidler (Harry Seidler and Associates and Biennale of Sydney) for the second stage of the selection process.

It is anticipated that the successful architectural practice will be selected and announced in March 2012, with the new pavilion due to be completed for the opening of the 56th International Art Exhibition, Venice Biennale 2015.

Read more about the Venice Biennale, including more on the pavilion, here.