INTRODUCTION

摘要

Well, fear not: we've produced an 'all you need to know' guide to 'Fundamentals', this year's intriguing Biennale, curated by Rem Koolhaas. Venice's 14th international architecture exhibition opens this week and to mark the occasion we've devoted the next 25 pages to the Biennale, outlining the eclectic contents of the British and Irish pavilions along with Scotland's emerging contribution. First up is an in-depth profile of the British offering, 'A Clockwork Jerusalem', curated by Sam Jacob and Wouter Vanstiphout (p30-42).This explores the wildly imaginative and often bucolic influences on post-war architecture and planning and also the impact of the resulting Utopian visions on popular culture. This section culminates in a manifesto of sorts - how the curators believe we must rediscover visionary and proactive planning to make the country a 'more pleasant land' (p40).