Invested by Zhang Xin, president, and Pan Shiyi, chairman of SOHO China Ltd., Commune by the Great Wall features avant-garde designs created by 12 young, well-known Asian architects. The Commune is situated in a valley occupying 8 square kilometers near the Great Wall. The grand vision of the developer is to build a contemporary architectural museum for private houses, and through such an experimental move, to influence a whole generation of architects, developers and consumers in China.
At the awards ceremony, Mr. Riley said this was the first Special Prize ever to have been awarded to a non-architect in the history of la Biennale di Venezia. He said this award was presented to Zhang Xin in recognition of her "bold personal initiative (that) emphasizes the role of 12 Asian architects in building privately-owned houses in a definitively contemporary manner."
In response to questions from the press, Zhang Xin said, "This is not an award for me alone. Rather, it is an award from the world to China. The theme of this year's architecture exhibition is 'Next'. Many Asian architects were recognized because their works represent the future." Pan Shiyi then stated, "Going into the 21st century, there is a lot of room for China's architectural art to develop. This is especially true as the focus of the world's architecture shifts to Asia."
Five prizes were awarded at the architecture exhibition. Besides Zhang Xin's Special Prize, the Golden Lion for Best Project went to Portuguese architect Mr Alvaro Siza Vieira. The Golden Lion for the Best Foreign Pavilion was presented to the Dutch Pavilion. The City of Barcelona snatched the Special Prize for governmental patronage and the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement was awarded to famous Japanese architect Toyo Ito. The 8th International Architecture Exhibition of la Biennale di Venezia opened on Sept. 7, and will continue to early November.
