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Matteo Cainer Matteo Cainer is a practising After receiving his master’s degree from the University In 2013 he co-founded and co-directed with Odile of Architecture in Venice, Italy, Matteo worked and Decq the Confluence Institute for Innovation and Office Principal architect, curator and educator. collaborated with a number of celebrated international Creative Strategies in Architecture in Lyon, France Based in London, he is Principal of practices including Peter Eisenman in New York and was Chair and professor until July 2015. City, Coop Himmelb(l)au in Vienna, and Arata Isozaki Matteo Cainer Architecture, founder Associati in Milan. It was in London that he then In March of 2020 to respond to the pandemic he of the Confluence Institute for created/directed the Design Research Studio at launches MCA Online a free educational initiative to Fletcher Priest Architects, and in June 2010 opened provide help and support to home-bound students Innovation and Creative Strategies his own practice. with tutorials, crits and a series of Lectures. He then in Architecture in Lyon, France and launches as part of Alphabet for the Futrure “What Now? Curatorially in 2004 he was Assistant Director to and ‘Post C-19!’ an Open Call to all the Architectural Director of Architecture Whispers. Kurt W. Forster for the 9th International Architecture Graduates of 2020 to imagine and sketch how Exhibition of la Biennale di Venezia - METAMORPH, they see and want the future to CHANGE. Matteo and in 2006 was appointed curator of the London continues to be a regular guest critic and jury member Architecture Biennale - CHANGE, with the exhibition: in various universities worldwide. ‘The World in One City - A Sketch for London’. In 2011 he moved to Paris where he created and The work of Matteo Cainer and his practice has won directed ‘Architecture Whispers’ a series of intimate various awards and has been published in numerous multidisciplinary and cross-cultural conversations books and international magazines; furthermore between emerging and consolidated visionary the work has been exhibited in various international international architects and their colleagues in other exhibitions among which the Royal Academy and the disciplines. In 2018 he moved back to London where Pisa Architecture Biennale. Matteo has also lectured he currently works and practises and in April of the and written and edited a number of books and articles same year he was nominated curator of the 7th in the field of architecture and design. Edition of the Dark Side Club, a three evening forum A for critical debate with prominent industry experts happening during the vernissage days of the 16th Venice Architecture Biennale. In 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic he launches ‘Alphabet for the Future’ a curatorial initiative to unite the creative community so as to transform the pandemic into opportunity for social change.

Matteo has always been active in academia: from being a regular visiting critic at the Bartlett School of Architecture, the AA and Westminster in London, to the Dessau Institute of Architecture in Germany, The Cooper Union, Pratt, Penn and Columbia in New York.

In 2009 he started teaching at the École Spéciale d’Architecture in Paris as Associate professor (Graduate and Undergraduate), Diploma and HMONP director (Professional Licensing) and in 2010 he conceived, created and directed for the school the Pavillon Spéciale, an annual architectural series that gave international young emerging and experimental architects the opportunity to build with students a temporary pavilion in the heart of Paris, France.

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Matteo has always been active in Confluence Institute École Spéciale d’Architecture École Spéciale d’Architecture academia; he is a regular visiting for Innovation ESA ESA / Pavillon Spéciale / critic both in London, Paris and and Creative Strategies Pavillon Spéciale Series internationally, from The Bartlett, in Architecture AA, Westminster, to various Paris, France Lyon, France Paris, France Universities in New York. In 2009 he started teaching at École Spéciale Conceived and directed by Matteo Cainer, the Pavillon As co-founder, co-director and chair, his role was that Matteo Cainer started teaching in 2009 as visiting Spéciale started with a first year design studio. The d’Architecture in Paris, where he was of developing and implementing both the strategic studio professor at École Spéciale d’Architecture in objective of the studio was to create an innovative and pedagogic vision of the school. Furthermore Paris. In 2010 he became an Associate professor and then Associate professor until the educational program that would establish a pedagogic being the Chair meant not only attracting teachers/ Diploma Director for the subsequent four years (until bridge between the architectural profession and spring of 2013. He then went on to researchers and teaching, but closely working with 2013). During this time Matteo taught architecture academia. This ‘in house’ pavilion confirmed the all the students to push his belief in giving new studio at multiple levels from first-year students all co-found, co-direct and chair until importance of the event itself which then sparked the generations of students the ability to pursue a the way to final year. The studios dealt with diverse international architectural series: ‘Pavillon Spéciale’. July 2015 the ‘Confluence Institute’ more transversal, collaborative and interdisciplinary issues in cities like Berlin, Istanbul, Prague, Vilnius, approach to architecture. Through innovation and Tallinn, Riga and many more. He was Diploma director in Lyon, France. The “Pavillon Spéciale” ran from 2010 to 2013. technology, to help them ‘break the mould’ explore throughout his stay and took fifteen students through It gave both young emerging and experimental their intuitions and choose their own ‘parcour’. Last to their HMONP ( Architectural licencing - equivalent architects the opportunity to build a temporary but not least running and oversee the day-to-day of Part 3 in the United Kingdom) installation with students in the heart of Paris. This administrative activities of the school. 2020 was unique worldwide because it was an on-site

MCA Online, London, United Kingdom collaboration between the selected architect and a Tutoring and lecturing to homebound students team of students from the Ecole Spéciale so as to A complete the design and construct the pavilion itself. 2019 Westminster, AA London, United Kingdom Jury members have included: Claude Parent, Regular visiting critic and jury member Benedetta Tagliabue, Ben Van Berkel, Kjetil Thorsen, Massimiliano Fuksas, Julia Peyton-Jones, David 2015-2018 Keuning, Iñaki Abalos Rice, Columbia, USC (Paris detachments), France Regular Visiting critic and jury member Participents: Cero 9, Cloud 9, Teddy Cruz, nArchitects, Rintala Eggertsson, Ball Nogues Studio, 2013-2015 Fantastic Norway, MOS, OSMD, Softlab, Sou Fujimoto Confluence Institute for Innovation and Creative Architects Strategies in Architecture, Lyon, France Co-Founder, Co-Director, Chair and professor Winners: Cloud 9 from Barcelona (2012) and Ball Nogues from Los Angeles (2013) 2009-2013 École Spéciale d’Architecture ESA, Paris, France Associate Studio Professor , Diploma director and HMONP director (Arch licensing)

2005-2007 Bartlett School of Architecture, AA, London, UK Regular visiting Critic for M.Arch course

1995-1999 Universita IUAV di Venezia, Venice, Italy Masters degree in Architecture Double thesis in Design and construction

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Matteo Cainer has always been Alphabet for the Future 2020 Dark Side Club 2018 Architecture Whispers working curatorially from 2004 when he was Assistant Director to Kurt W. Forster for the 9th International Architecture Exhibition La Biennale London / Worldwide Venezia, Italy Paris, France di Venezia, METAMORPH, to curator of the London architecture Biennale WHAT NOW? A new curatorial initiative, an Matteo Cainer was invited to take the reins of the Architecture Whispers is a series of intimate in 2006. In 2010 he created the international OPEN CALL to all Architecture debate and curatorial direction for the Seventh edition multidisciplinary and cross-cultural conversations Graduates of 2020, to imagine and sketch a new of the Dark side Club. between emerging, established and visionary ‘Pavillon Spéciale’ series and in 2013 extraordinary world capable of transforming the international architects and their colleagues in other conceived a new event for the City of pandemic crisis into an opportunity to foster new The last editions the Dark side club welcomed over disciplines. They take place in the Silencio Club in lines of thinking, innovation and research. Envisioning 250 international guests from different disciplines to Paris, an exclusive venue for writers, directors and Paris called ‘Architecture Whispers’. radical strategies and alternative behavioural models enjoy a fabulous place dinner in a magnificent Canal musicians, established by American filmmaker, visual In 2018 was curator of the 7th for the future of our cities will provide an opportunity Grande Palazzo and an epic salon conversation in and artist and musician David Lynch. At a time when to question our current mode of living and create a around architecture. In this edition Matteo proposed images appear to count more than words, whispers Edition of the Dark Side Club during new resilient global narrative. the over arching theme for all the three evenings as: present an opportunity to advance and extend the the16th Venice Architecture Biennale Digital submission or Architectural Domination’ This architectural discourse. There is a strong belief that an The graduating class of 2020 has been asked to was then decorticated in each evenings with different architectural debate must re-emerge and to do so the change their long-standing routines of education, guests and more specific and dynamic questions in introduction of face-to-face discussions and personal to work and learn remotely, and to graduate in their each one. interaction are essential. 2020 rooms. We believe, therefore, that it is time to give back to them, this is their opportunity and their Guests have included: Cynthia Davidson, Martha Guests have included: Odile Decq, Philippe Rahm, A Alphabet for the Future, Worldwide moment to put forward their ideas and their visions Thorne, Jenny Sabin, Hernan Diaz Alonso, Kim Didier Faustino, Kim Nielsen, Theo Spyropoulos, Luca Curator not only how the future will change, but how they Nielsen, Aaron Betsky, Giovanna Carnevale, Winka Galofaro, Ricardo de Ostos, Peter Zellner, Manuelle 2018 want it to change. The best works from around the Dubbledam, Mario Carpo, Areti Markopoulou, Marjan Gautrand, Bostjan Vuga, Brendan MacFarlane, globe will be part of a curated international exhibition Colletti, Liam Young, Jesse Reiser and more. Philippe Barrier, Lina Ghotmeh &more 7th Edition Dark Side Club, Venezia Italy that aims to create a new Alphabet for the Future: a Curator fresh architectural and design language to compose 2013-current an unprecedented vocabulary of ideas for a more equitable way of living, one that is more aware, Architecture whispers, Paris France responsible, conscious, environmental, egalitarian, Founder and Director generous and human centric. 2010-2013 Pavillon Spéciale École Spéciale d’Architecture, Paris France Founder and Director of Program

2006 London Architecture Biennale - CHANGE The World in One City, A Sketch for London Curator and Installation designer

2003-2004 9th International Architecture Exhibition La Biennale di Venezia, Italy METAMORPH Assistant Director / vice curator Coordinator of exhibition design/layout Liaison to Architecture offices

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London Architecture Biennale Venice Architecture Biennale

London, United Kingdom Venezia, Italy

The World in One City - A Sketch for London The 9th International Architecture Exhibition la The Corderie in the Venice Arsenale, was the venue brought the architectural world together on the Biennale di Venezia, METAMORPH focused on the for works that have literally transformed the discipline premise of Change, 90 International architectural fundamental theoretical and practical changes taking of architecture since the 1970s, from those of Peter studios were invited to sketch a visionary project place in contemporary architecture. This provided Eisenman (with his terrestrial automatisms), Frank O. for London to further underline the importance of the visitor with the chance to explore the work of Gehry (with buildings that transform themselves into architecture in imagining the city’s future. Architects over 180 architecture studios which were presented fish), Aldo Rossi (architecture as memory), and James based outside the UK were given the challenge of through photographs, models, videos, and films. Stirling (the constructivist collage) to the latest trends sketching a new and controversial project for the city and projects built. based on their outsider’s view of London. The show The programme of METAMORPH, was divided into attempted to move beyond the current architecture two settings: the Italian Pavilion in the Giardini and The role of Matteo Cainer was that of co-curator and scene, dominated as it is by cyberspace and video the Corderie in the Arsenale. The Italian Pavilion in the Assistant director. This implied initially travelling the simulation, and beyond the familiar client restraints Giardini which presented installations commissioned globe so as to scout for young emerging and more and fashionable image parade. Instead, the intent from various designers, offering specific examples consolidated architectural talents. Subsequently he was to privilege the concept and the ‘sketch’ since it of how the various epochal changes have led to the coordinate the exhibition design and layout of the has often the power to communicate more clearly the recent transformations in architecture. There were entire exhibition in liaison with Asymptote (NY) and essence of a revolutionary concept, rather than a project. also eight special installations by architects such specifically curated and designed the installation A as Ben van Berkel, Peter Eisenman, Kengo Kuma, design for the ‘Concert Hall’ exhibition within the Architects included: Daniel Libeskind (US), Juan Navarro Baldeweg, Massimo Scolari, Ron Arad, Italian Pavilion. EMBT (Spain), Massimiliano Fuksas (Italy),Thom Wilkinson - Eyre, Sauerbruch + Hutton and others. Mayne-Morphosis (US) Peter Eisenman (US), 3XN These installations revealed the bonds that exist (Denmark),Tezuka (Japan), BIG (Denmark), Next between metamorphoses in the organisation of the Enterprise (Austria), Diller-Scofidio (US), Jacob profession, the new types of building, materials, McFarlane (France), Odile Decq (France), Tadao Ando construction systems and innovations in the depiction (Japan) Kengo Kuma (Japan) and more. and realisation of architecture.

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Matteo Cainer worked on various London Architecture Biennale installation design projects, from the The World in One City 1:1 prototype for the 8th International Location London, United Kingdom Venice Architecture Biennale, to the Size 420 m2 micro-architecture ‘A Void’ for the The installation design was a series of illuminated Milano Furniture Fair. He was project Plexiglass lanterns positioned on an invisible world coordinator for Eisenman Architects’ map. The geographical latitude and longitude of its country of origin identified the location of each Castel Vecchio installation “Il giardino project. Each lantern offered 4 different visions all dei passi perduti” and designed illuminated by one single light as if the source of ideas for the future of London. While seemingly the installation for the Concert Hall free-standing objects floating in the space, each one section at the 9th Architecture Venice presented very thoughtful and grounded ideas. Biennale. In 2006 he conceived and built the installation for the London Venice Architecture Biennale Architecture Biennale and in 2011 the Prototype 1:1 City of Culture installation design and construction for Location Venezia, Italy the Pavillon Spéciale Exhibition. Size 90 m2 A The installation design was a speculative half scale prototype of the soffit in the Hemeroteca building, 2011 one of the six cultural buildings in the City of Culture Pavillon Spéciale Exhibition of Galicia in Santiago de Compostela, designed by École Spéciale d’Architecture, Paris France Eisenman Architects. The installation was conceived Installation design and construction as a prototype space that would convey an interior space and the conceptual architectural approach, 2006 where the overlay of the Cartesian, medieval, and London Architecture Biennale - CHANGE topological surfaces from the city, come together in a The World in One City, A Sketch for London complex layered architectural space. Installation design and construction

2004 Piazza Interni 9th International Architecture Biennale -METAMORPH A Void La Biennale di Venezia, Italy Installation design - Concert Halls Location Milano, Italy Size 105 m2 2002 8th International Architecture Biennale - NEXT The project ‘A Void’ commissioned by INTERNI La Biennale di Venezia, Italy magazine, reflected the concept of poché, or Prototype 1:1- City of Culture (Eisenman Architects) interstitial space. The revealing of the poché was Installation design and construction achieved by the engaging play of two skins, (Barrisol) an interior and exterior, purposely cut at both ends. 2002 Here in this usually unseen space, where the structure PIAZZA INTERNI- Milano furniture fair and lights are placed, the tension of the void was Milano, Italy created. The project itself becomes an active void, no Micro-Architecture- A VOID longer a background, but a poché to be occupied Installation design and construction and experienced.

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Matteo Cainer worked and - Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, Israel Arata Isozaki Associati collaborated with a number of Campus and Academy | 36,500 sqm, - MOCAPE Shenzhen, China City Life celebrated international practices Museum of Contemporary Art | 82,050 sqm Location Milano, Italy - Three Stone Performing Arts, Taipei from Eisenman Architects in New Size 164,000 m2 Performing Arts Centre | 78,500 sqm York, to Coop Himmelb(l)au in The project is designed by architects Arata Isozaki, Vienna and Arata Isozaki in Milano. 2005 Daniel Libeskind and Zaha Hadid. The project involves the construction of three skyscrapers, 168,000 sqm He then founded and directed the Arata Isozaki e Associati, Milano, Italy will be devoted to a park, 164,000 sqm residential Project/Design Architect for residential Design Research Studio at FPA in area (1,300 apartments housing about 4,500 people). London. In each office, he worked on - City Life-Fiera Milano (Italy) a variety of projects with increasing The project is designed by architects Arata Isozaki, Daniel Libeskind and Zaha Hadid.The project roles of responsibility. He then went involves the construction of three skyscrapers on to open his own office in London 164,000 sqm residential area (1,300 apartments housing about 4,500 people). at the end of 2010. Coop Himmelb(l)au 2003 Akron Art Museum 2010 - Current Coop Himmelb(l)au, Vienna, Austria Location Akron Ohio, United States Matteo Cainer Architects Ltd, UK/FR Project /Design Architect Size 5,900 m2 Founder and Director Principal Projects A The Akron Art Museum houses collections spanning Selected projects include - Akron Art Museum, Ohio, USA (Opened 2007) from 1850 to the present day, a period that reflects - Forêt Urbaine Paris, France (under construction) Museum Complex | 5,900 sqm the founding and growth of the City of Akron. To Penthouse project |1,433 sqm - BMW Welt, Munich, Germany (Opened 2007) meet the increasing public interest in the museum’s - TRANSCENDENCE, Busan, S Korea Multi-use exhibition centre | 73,000 sqm programs and exhibitions, the museum commissioned Mulmangol Bunker Regeneration |11,634 sqm the first public building in the United States designed - Open Gate, Suncheon, South Korea (WA Award) by the internationally celebrated architecture firm, Art Platform with Museum | 5,500 sqm 1999 - 2002 COOP HIMMELB(L)AU. - Quartz Museum-Liget Budapest, Hungry Eisenman Architects, New York, USA National Gallery & Ludwig Museum | 42,020 sqm Project/Design Architect - Timeless Cube (WA Award) National Museum of Afghanistan | 17,126 sqm Principal Projects - Camellian Opera House, S.Korea (Mention) - The Void, Milano. Italy 2002 Eisenman Architects Opera House and Theater | 56,600 sqm Piazza Interni, Micro-architecture | 102 sqm - Gosta Serlachius Museum, Finland Peter Eisenman with Matteo Cainer City of Culture Museum complex | 4,760 sqm - Phoenix Stadium, USA (Opened 2006) Location Santiago de Compostela, Spain Multipurpose football stadium | 158,000 sqm Size 75,000 m2 - City of Culture of Galicia, Santiago, Spain (Ongoing) 2005 - 2010 Cultural Complex | 150,000 sqm The City of Culture of Galicia is the development of a Fletcher Priest Architects, London, UK - Holocaust Memorial, Berlin, Germany (Opened 2004) winning submission by Eisenman Architects in an Founder and head of the Design Research Studio Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe |19,000sqm international competition. The City is a complex that

includes museums, a national library, an opera house, Department within the office that worked on and a variety of complementary functions. research and tested new ideas through international competitions Selected projects include - Robin-Hood Gardens, UK (Finalist) Regeneration plan | 56,000 sqm

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Matteo Cainer has been published Essays / Catalogues in numerous books and international IaaC Bits magazines, furthermore he has Cyber-prosthetic architecture written and edited a number of Essay Tower Skin - UTS tower, Sydney books and articles in the field of Catalogue Augmented Australia, Venezia Biennale 2014 Text for LAVA’s Tower Skin Project architecture and design, including: ‘Watercube: The Book’ Investigate, Ask, Tell, Draw, Build Essay: Atmosphere 3 profiling the international Danish ‘Water Cube’ is an exhaustive description of the Watercube by CCDI, PTW Architects. architectural practice 3XN. Yale Constructs Conference reportage: L’Enjeu Capital(es) - Les Métropoles de la grande Echelle Green Void - A transformation of Custom House Sydney by LAVA, Text for exhibition catalogue Articles/ Interviews An interview by Vera Mantengoli

Trieste Prima Sant’Antonio, il nuovo progetto Books Interview by Nicolò Giraldi Il Piccolo ‘Investigate, Ask, Tell, Draw, Build’ La bora fa ‘cantare piazza San’t Antonio’ Author of book Interview by Micol Brusaferro Investigate, Ask, Tell, Draw, Build profiles one of A Architectural Ninja Europe’s most exciting and innovative architecture Matteo Cainer of Matteo Cainer Architecture practices, Denmark’s 3XN. Key to their success Interview by Linda Bennett has been the immense importance they place on Art Tribune investigating and interpreting the historical and A Lione e’ tutta un’altra scuola cultural context of the site of each new project. Interview with Matteo Cainer and Odile Decq Il Piccolo Matteo is currently working various books, among Cainer, architetto che ha fondato ateneo which 3XN a New Frontier, Architectural Interview by Micol Brusaferro Domination or Digital submission and Alphabet Attitude Magazine #51 for the Future. Matteo Cainer Featured work and interview l’llustre #7 Websites Al lavoro con Matteo Cainer An interview by Vera Mantengoli Various articles have been published on multiple Il Piccolo websites regarding Matteo Cainer as head of Matteo Matteo, l’architetto che ha lo studio sulla Senna Cainer Architects, as the founder of the Confluence Interview by Micol Brusaferro Institute in Lyon, as director of Architecture Whispers London Property and as curator of the London Architecture Biennale. Why London Interview with Matteo Cainer Websites include: Archdaily, Designboom, Bustler, Building Design Archinet, E-architects, Urukia, Plusmood, Tuvie, Culture Vulture Suckerspunch and many more. Interview Matteo Cainer

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76 Portland Place matteocainer.com London, W1B 1NT [email protected] +44 778 853 1431

IT @M_Cainer @macainer Milano, Italy Matteo-Cainer A +39 347 3015400 Matteo-Cainer

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