How will we live together? OFF FENCE installation at the Architecture Biennale 2021

The installation of OFF FENCE by SKULL studio and MOLO architekti, the only studios representing the Czech Republic in this prestigious exhibition of contemporary architecture is an answer to the provocative question "How will we live together" in the freely accessible Forte Marghera

The wooden fence is a symbol of separation. During historical developments over the years, the society has been divided by various forms of walls - social, cultural, physical and geographical. If we ask ourselves the question "How will we live together?", it is necessary to first start by being aware of what divides us: how does it come between us and the state we are trying to achieve?

The OFF FENCE installation takes a radical stance, cutting across the existing gravel path and thus manifesting the phenomenon of separation. "We choose a confrontational tone. We sever the path. We turn an obstacle into an impulse. An impulse for change," says the author, sculptor Matěj Hájek

A wooden fence is set up as a symbolic obstacle in the path for visitors: if they wish to continue their journey, they have the opportunity to face what is in front of them. This physical deed allows the visitors to cross the obstacle and enter the problem

"Through the medium of playing we take a bold step. We guide the dynamo of change through our own initiative. Play is a beginning of change. By entering the physical body of the obstacle, visitors overcome themselves," says Hájek. The installation consists of four "fences" made of larch wood profiles, which progressively slope away from the vertical axis. The "fences" are interconnected by inclined platforms, which provide movement along the play element