In this recently-released NZIA video, Dr Charles Walker, co-creative director of the New Zealand national exhibition at the 2016 Venice Biennale, talks about themes and thoughts behind Future Islands, Italo Calvino and team composition for the Biennale.

Future Islands will present Aotearoa New Zealand’s architecture within an expanded field – as metaphorical islands of different ways of practicing architecture in an increasingly diverse society.

The exhibition aims to locate projects within an atmospheric environment of floating islands, as a metaphor for real, experimental or imaginary ways of living, and a response to the collection of islands that is Venice.

To celebrate and support New Zealand’s exhibition at the 2016 Venice Architecture Biennale, Miriam van Wezel has created a commemorative medallion inspired by the exhibition theme, Future Islands. Many patrons at the New Zealand Architecture Awards evening in October were spotted proudly sporting the medallion.

The limited edition medallion designed by Miriam for the 2014 Biennale was an object of much desire and sold out quickly. 

Each medallion is individually packaged with a handmade stamp. They may be collected from the NZIA office or couriered ($7.50 North Island; $15 South Island). The medallion costs $100. 

Show your support of Future Islands! To order, email: jbuckley@nzia.co.nz