The 2016 Lisbon Architecture Triennale opened on 5th October and will run until 11th December. This year, the fourth edition of the event, the theme is the “Form of Form”. Visitors will be able to explore aesthetic, technical, political and social perspectives on design.

There are four main exhibitions as well as all kinds of fringe events, talks and other activities for visitors to enjoy. The aim is to gain appreciation for the challenges that every architect has to face, whether they are based in London, Lisbon or anywhere else in the world.

The Triennale will look at all of the various strands that need to be considered when designing architecture. Several important relationships will be looked at including between the architect and the client, the contractor and developer, and the building and the setting. These relationships can be the cause of many issues.

The main exhibition of the event takes a look at different designs and the similarities that exist even if they are starkly different. To achieve this spaces designed by three different firms were put together to create a new structure with 12 interconnected rooms. The juxtaposition is astonishing as rooms that were never intended to sit side by side do just that.

By placing the rooms side by side it is possible to get a much better appreciation of the form of each one. This is fantastic, particularly when you look at just how diverse the spaces are. Some of them are several stories tall whereas others are much shallower. There are enclosed rooms and open air courtyards. All of the spaces are nestled together and people can walk fluidly through them if they wish or stop to consider each one.

At Coffey Architects we understand how important it is to appreciate the various different forms that architecture can take. They enrich our sector and allow the whole thing to move forward. As a forward thinking architect based in London we take inspiration from various quarters and do all we can to ensure the final form is beautiful and suits its purpose.