The history of national pavilions at the Biennale starts with Antonio Fradeletto, Biennale's General Secretary at that time, that proposed to build national dedicated pavilions within the enclosure of the Biennale. The first country that erected is own pavilion was Belgium in 1907. The australian pavilion is the latest that has been completed.
How the idea of Fradeletto can be taken beyond its original boundary?
How in a tremendous political time architecture can helps to construct a political identity?
European Union Pavilion is designed to define a identity as a whole promoting accomplishments and potentials of this institution. It takes shape from European archetypes, the pitched roof house that is spread out almost everywhere in the continent and the public staircase, merged together in a new form of architecture.
As everywhere in Europe, from Rome to Copenhagen, from Madrid to Berlin, the public tribune will work as a social hub where people can meet and enjoy their daylife, on top of this, it can be used to host events and talks helping the creation of discussion and sharing of opinions.
The color of the pavilion is azure (Pantone Reflex Blue) to create a visual immediate connection to the flag of Europe. A system of twelve point lights turns on at night to transform the pavilion in a real icon.
As time have changed the Fradeletto ideas may change as well, Europe will be the first pavilion in Biennale's Giardini beyond the nationality concept.