Architecture exhibitions - international exchange of ideas

In view of the international competition of ideas and locations, there is an increasing need to make the achievements made in Germany in the fields of planning and building known to an international audience.
Complementing the promotion of foreign trade and investment carried out by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology and the cultural relations policy of the Foreign Office, the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs supports the international approach.
International architecture exhibitions
International architecture exhibitions are important means to exchange ideas and showcase the achievements of architects and engineers.
Venice Biennale of Architecture
The most well-known among the international architecture exhibitions is the Venice Biennale. Germany is a regular participant in this exhibition and uses the existing German pavilion to show its national contributions. In accordance with the Italian regulations, the professional responsibility for the German contribution in Venice is assigned to a so-called General Commissioner who is appointed by the Ministry based on a proposal made by an interdisciplinary committee.
Sao Paulo Biennale of Architecture
Alongside Venice, the Sao Paulo Biennale of Architecture has established itself as the second largest international architecture exhibition. In the year 2005, Germany for the first time officially participated in this exhibition with a national contribution. A German contribution is prepared for the forthcoming Sao Paulo Biennale in 2007. For more information on the German contribution to the São Paulo Architecture Biennale, please visit the press release: "Ready for Take Off".
Bilateral and multilateral exchange of experience
In addition to the international architecture exhibitions, a direct bilateral and multilateral exchange of experience with other countries in the fields of architecture and building culture has become more and more important. The Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs is active in this field, for instance by participating in the European Forum for Architectural Policies.
For the year 2007 when Germany will hold the EU Council Presidency, plans have been made to stage among other events an international conference on the subject "building culture in Europe" which will provide an opportunity for presenting the state of building culture in Germany at international level.
Moreover, it will be one of the tasks of the planned Federal Foundation for Building Culture to act as national point of contact in the international exchange of experience on architecture and building culture.