St. Louis based architecture practice – Patterhn Ives – is featured in an exhibition that coincides with the 2021 Venice Architectural Biennale. Open to the public through November 21, 2021, ‘A South Forty: Contemporary Architecture and Design in the American South’ highlights the work of 40 vibrant and distinguished design firms practicing in proximity to U.S. Interstate 40.
‘A South Forty’ seeks to inspire a dialogue on the significance of contemporary design in an often overlooked or compartmentalized region. Known for its history and vernacular, the Architecture of the American South has drastically evolved in the past 30 years by responding to changes in population, culture, and climate. The exhibit’s curated collection showcases work that reimagines what Southern Architecture ought to be, while advocating for design that is of its place – using an economy of means to create a richness of meaning.
The inclusion of Patterhn Ives in this narrative stems from the firm’s commitment to place-based design in the complex region we serve – a physical intersection between north and south, east and west; a cultural crossroads linking old and new, tradition and modernity. Our work strives to elevate everyday experiences by crafting thoughtful interventions within and amongst historic structures. We work to create buildings that will endure by combining regional materials with sustainable design practices.
“The ‘story’ of A SOUTH FORTY is also one of place-based design, attentive to the necessities of climate, materials, labor, and purpose, but also attentive to overlooked or undervalued typologies, constituencies, and locales.
The greater emphasis in the exhibition is to be seen at the public scale, in the civic realm, through the accomplishment of buildings and projects of strength, durability, and value for the communities in which they are situated.”
Peter MacKeith, Dean and Professor, University of Arkansas Fay Jones School of Architecture + Design
The installation is included in the European Cultural Center’s ‘TIME, SPACE, EXISTENCE’ exhibition. An Opening Tour and Reception for ‘A South Forty’ participants will be held on Tuesday, October 5, and a moderated conversation will be live streamed on Wednesday, October 6. Virtual Tours are available on the European Cultural Center’s website: www.ecc-italy.eu/exhibitions/nowopen
Curated and organized by the Fay Jones School of Architecture + Design, modus studio, and in partnership with the literary journal The Oxford American, ‘A South Forty’ is also featured in this year’s annual summer issue of the journal focused on PLACE.
To learn more about the exhibition and all the practices included, visit: www.asouthforty.org