2038 is a lot of things, first and foremost the story of a positive time ahead. Let us show you the fragments and parts that lead to the (hi)story, that today we call future.

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Once upon a time

2038 was initiated in 2019 as the German contribution to the 17th International Architecture Exhibition: La Biennale di Venezia - the biggest and most important architecture show, which takes place every second year in the beautiful Giardini gardens of Venice.

A Serene World in 2038, Still from History Channel by © 20382038 German Pavilion at the 17th International Architecture Exhibition — La Biennale di Venezia

The New Serenity

The idea of 2038 is simple: together we look back from the future, to try and understand how we made it through to a state of NEW SERENITY.

Billie and Vincent in the German Pavilion, Still from Interrail by © 20382038 German Pavilion at the 17th International Architecture Exhibition — La Biennale di Venezia

Providing Answers

In a series of films, 2038 explores the vision of a somewhat better future. It starts with the fictional plot of INTERRAIL, a film set in 2038 about two young adults who visit the Venice of their childhood, giving us a glimpse into how the future feels.  

Vint Cerf, Still from History Channel by © 20382038 German Pavilion at the 17th International Architecture Exhibition — La Biennale di Venezia

No Questions

The history channels help us better understand this fictional world. In documentary-like formats, experts are given a voice. They speak to us from a future perspective, about how their alternative models became viable systemic solutions. 

Audrey Tang, Still from History Channel by © 20382038 German Pavilion at the 17th International Architecture Exhibition — La Biennale di Venezia

A Collaborative Project

2038 is also a growing team of international experts from various disciplines: Architecture & Art, Ecology & Economy, Philosophy & Politics, Technology & Science. The world of 2038 is grounded through their applied knowledge. 

Clemens accessing the Hubs Pavilion from a boat by © 20382038 German Pavilion at the 17th International Architecture Exhibition — La Biennale di Venezia

Explore and Experience 2038

Fiction and fact meet in the German Pavilion of this year's architecture biennale. To open the discussion to a wider global audience that cannot or never could travel to Venice, the project brings the story of 2038 online. 

Talk and Meet in 2038 - Hubs Pavillon by © 20382038 German Pavilion at the 17th International Architecture Exhibition — La Biennale di Venezia

The German Pavilion, Online

The virtual pavilion is a series of formats that will be explored during the six-month exhibition period. Central to it is the open-source Cloud Pavilion created with MOZ://A HUBS, which allows people from all over the world to meet in, talk about, and explore 2038. 

German Pavilion at the 17th International Architecture Exhibition — La Biennale di Venezia by © Federico Torra for 20382038 German Pavilion at the 17th International Architecture Exhibition — La Biennale di Venezia

The German Pavilion, Venice

Although we like the idea of meeting people from all over the world online, we also love Venice. Thus, the virtual pavilion's digital formats will be supplemented by a series of in-person events throughout the summer, giving us a reason to visit the German pavilion once again.

Billie reading N°120 of Arts of the Working Class by © 20382038 German Pavilion at the 17th International Architecture Exhibition — La Biennale di Venezia

To the Streets of the World

Following this decentralized approach, the official publication of the German pavilion is the 2038 issue of Arts of the Working Class, a multi-lingual, bi-monthly street journal. Released in June 2020, the first edition brought the (his)story of 2038 to the streets of the world.

Clemens: What took you so long? by Foreign Legion in N°120 of Arts of the Working Class by © 20382038 German Pavilion at the 17th International Architecture Exhibition — La Biennale di Venezia

Beyond the Biennale

All these fragments make up 2038 and they have one thing in common: they try to understand the story of a future as a democratic tool for writing itself. Thus, 2038 does not end with the Biennale, but is only the beginning of a history that today we call our future. 

Credits: Story

2038 is a non-profit company with the goal to promote architectural discourse across disciplinary boundaries. 2038 talks to experts from various fields and shares their views and opinions, in partly edited form. 2038 does not claim the approaches, contents and theses of the experts and does everything to quote and name them correctly and in detail. Should this exceptionally not be the case, just write us an email (press@2038.xyz) and we will immediately update the information accordingly.
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Text / Concept / Realisation: Olaf Grawert, Angelika Hinterbrandner and Jonas Janke
Editing: Michaela Friedberg

© 2038
2038.xyz

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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