Venice Biennale – The Encyclopedic Palace

Curator Massimiliano Gioni commissioned Selldorf Architects to transform the Arsenale’s architectural layout for the central exhibition of the 2013 Venice Biennale, “The Encyclopedic Palace.” With works from the past century alongside new commissions, the exhibition showcased over 150 artists from 38 countries. A 13th century factory organized as a 69,000 square foot enfilade of rooms, the design transformed the cavernous brick spaces into a cohesive series of galleries suited to contemporary art. Masking most of the historic brick walls with new white surfaces, and subdividing the vast building into more intimate galleries, it was one of the most significant architectural interventions ever undertaken at the Arsenale.