After a very long journey, the team has assembled in Venice to install an exhibition as part of this year’s Venice Biennale. The installation by Simon Twose and Dr Andrew Barrie is part of the Traces of Centuries & Future Steps show at the Palazzo Bembo, located on Venice’s Grand Canal a few steps from the famous Rialto Bridge.

The 15th century palazzo is already an intense mass of energy as 57 architectural groups from 26 countries move swiftly to set their work in place for next week’s opening. In the building’s courtyard a team from Italy is building a 9m-high prototype of a fog harvesting tower conceived for the mountainous regions of Ethiopia – water that condenses on a special fabric is collected, allowing locals to avoid long daily treks to distant water holes.

Our installation is at the opposite end of the size range. To avoid shipping delays and minimize material costs, our installation is miniaturized, allowing everything to be carried to Venice as airplane hand luggage - the part of the installation prepared in Auckland weighs less than a kilo; the Wellington section is heavier, but fits in four plastic lunch boxes! Tomorrow we start work…