The days of praise to Architecture

For the opening of Triennale 2019, the map was dense and the calendar was full. The marathon of inaugurations and events that we proposed for these three days was ambitious and was built based on reason. As a prelude to the fifth edition, the theme unfolded into five curatorial visions that explore rationality in architecture, in an attempt to bring it to the general public, in a global understanding, bringing together cultural agents, critics, researchers and partners from all over the world. The beginning of this journey took place on 3 October next to the Tagus River, where we began by unveiling Economy of Means, integrated in the MAAT’s anniversary programme, presenting construction structures and ways of living that have been produced and developed throughout history.

On Friday, 4, the day was full of inaugurations: it began in Oeiras, with the installation in the Cartuxa convent, with the Associated Project A Certain Kind of Life and exhibition Inner Space in the National Museum of Contemporary Art, ending at the end of the day with What is the Ornament? in Culturgest. Many kilometres of models and research, elements and presentations involving different international schools of architecture, such as the EPFL – École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne, the École d’architecture de la ville & des territoires Paris-Est and the MIARD.

On Saturday, 5 October, the celebration led us to the activation of the public Boxing Boxes installation, in Portugal Novo neighborhood, in Olaias. This Associated Project, which is a replication of what had already been tested in Mexico, involved local associations and agents. The afternoon took us to the exhibition Natural Beauty hosted at Sinel de Cordes Palace, where we also revealed an installation on the façade: the Associated Project Hidden Dimensions. We all went to CCB, for the award ceremony of the Début, Lifetime Achievement and Universities prizes and the exhibition Agriculture and Architecture: Taking the Country’s Side at CCB–Garagem Sul. The night ended in Jardim das Oliveiras, in a party with DJ set, Australian specialties accompanied by wines from Esporão.

Between greetings and gatherings, there were over 7000 visitors during these three intense days, which also included the inauguration of the popup bookstore at Triennale headquarters, by Polígrafa, the publisher of the book series of 2019’s edition.

Testimonies

These three days in Lisbon have been so intense and full of nice encounters! I leave Lisbon with beautiful memories of the conversations, meetings and laughs that I shared with so many friends and new people I met. Thank you for making it possible!
Eugeni Bach, Participant of Economy of Means

Congratulations on such wonderful Triennale opening days, and thank you dearly for the warm welcome in Lisbon.
Ana Dana Beroš, Jury member of Lisbon Triennale Millennium bcp Début Award