The Architects’ Journal Architecture News & Buildings
Madeleine Kessler, 33, is co-founder of Unscene Architecture, the team behind the winning concept for the British Pavilion at the 17th Venice Architecture Biennale. Dubbed The Garden of Privatised Delights, the pavilion will see Kessler and co-curator Manijeh Verghese set out a variety of ingenious ways to rethink and re-programme struggling public spaces across the UK.
The exhibition, featuring immersive installations by leading researchers and practitioners, is rooted in Kessler’s prolific and collaborative championing of good design to create a ‘more accessible, sustainable and equitable city’ for everyone. Having trained as both an engineer and architect, Kessler is a rare example of a practitioner working at the interface between people, infrastructure and public space, with project experience ranging from museums, exhibitions and pavilions to large-scale campuses and airports.
The Garden of Privatised Delights – artwork in the style of Hieronymus Bosch, part of Unscene Architecture’s concept for the British Pavilion at the 2021 Venice Architecture Biennale
Inspired by 40-under-40 pioneer and DSDHA-founder Deborah Saunt, who challenged the ‘prohibitive cost of education’, Kessler continues to examine new ways to integrate the social value and holistic sustainability of her architectural projects into the wider world.
Looking ahead, Kessler’s years of service to the National Infrastructure Commission now place her in a unique position to help shape much-needed policy-level responses to the coronavirus pandemic. Meanwhile, the imminent setting-up of a yet-to-be-named new venture specialising in collaborative built projects with local communities will be a move to watch out for.
Milestones
2011 Starts Part 2 studies at the Architectural Association
2013 Teaches AA Summer School and begins working relationship with Manijeh Verghese. Joins Studio Weave and works on Clerkenwell Design Week 2014 pavilion ‘Smith’, St James’s Market Pavilion and Watering Poles (concept for the AJ’s Kiosk design challenge)
2015 Qualifies as architect and joins Haworth Tompkins. Works on rebuilding the fire-damaged Grade II*-listed Grand Hall at Battersea Arts Centre
2017 Joins Haptic Architects, where projects include Oslo’s 100,000m² Adamstuen campus, the Science Museum’s One Billion Journeys exhibition and the King’s Cross W3 community building
2018 Picked for National Infrastructure Commission’s inaugural Young Professionals Panel
2019 Wins competition to co-curate British Pavilion at the 17th Venice Architecture Biennale and founds Unscene Architecture with co-curator Verghese
British Pavilion design team picked for 2020 Venice Biennale
Two young architects picked to shape future of UK’s infrastructure
AJ 40 under 40 in association with
