After a series of Biennale Exhibitions directed by eminent critics or historians, the 12th International Architecture Exhibition has once again been entrusted to an architect, Kazuyo Sejima, to bring the theme of quality in architecture back to the forefront, with a personality who makes quality her own personal vocation. The title chosen by Kazuyo Sejima for the 12th International Architecture Exhibition is "People meet in architecture."

“The idea is to help people relate to architecture, help architecture relate to people and help people relate to themselves," said Kazuyo Sejima. "Can architecture clarify new values and a new lifestyles of the XXI century? This exhibition will be an experience of architecture possibilities, to understand how architecture expresses new ways of living, about an architecture created by different values and approaches. I would be very happy if we could feel where our society will go through this exhibition.”

The Exhibition will be held from August 29 to November 21, 2010 at the Giardini and at the Arsenale (preview August 26, 27 and 28 2010), and in various other venues in Venice.

Independent spaces for each architect or each theme will allow participants to be their own curators. In this way, contributors will design their own space and make presentations that consider the experience of the visitor both physically and conceptually.

“The 12th Exhibition wishes to reopen the discussion about architecture and its role in civilization. This discipline must be in a position to accept the challenge of organizing the space of our lives. In this sense, it must address one of the highest problems: the contemporary realization of the res publica,” said

The President of the Biennale Paolo Baratta.

The 12th International Architecture Exhibition of the Biennale di Venezia will also present exhibitions in the Pavilions at the Giardini and in the historic city center of Venice. This edition will include selected collateral events, presented by international entities and institutions, which will present their exhibitions and initiatives in Venice concurrently with the 12th Exhibition.