The Wall That Can’t Be Moved. Asma (left) and Reem (right) having fun with the Fundamentals ‘Wall’ shirt purchased from La Biennale. Photo by Hayder Al Ansari
The Wall That Can’t Be Moved. Asma (left) and Reem (right) having fun with the Fundamentals ‘Wall’ shirt purchased from La Biennale. Photo by Hayder Al Ansari

Venice Architecture Biennale: Calles and Sunwise Turns



As part of the series following the interns in the six-month programme for the National Pavilion of the UAE at the 14th International Architecture Exhibition of la Biennale di Venezia, The Art Blog already featured diary entry blog posts from Reem Hantoush and Asma Bukhammas.

The girls spent one month in Venice and as well as immersing themselves in the culture, they took some wonderful photographs and also made a cool timelapse video. Now that they have returned, we asked them to reflect on their time.

Reem says:

The City of Venice has awe-inspired many historians, artists and architects in the past, and it did not fail to charm me as well. As I paced through the many different calles or streets, eating Grom's gelato, taking in the sights of the canals, the bridges, the façades, the history, the ancient and modern and contemporary existence that have passed through these calles, I started capturing moments in time.

Similarly, back at the National Pavilion of the UAE, I started recording and photographing the different moments of the construction stages. I was soon dubbed the unofficial CPP: Construction Process Photographer. As vital as it was to capture these moments, the internship experience proved to be more than that. I had the privilege to work with interdisciplinary team of professors, architects, contractors, managers, Italian interns and many more. Even though we faced some difficulties and challenging tasks, this experience revealed how surprisingly teamwork effort is imperative. Throughout the 30 days, I was captivated by what the people and the history of the city have to offer. I never thought that being part of the Venice Internship programme would reveal new horizons in my future career path, but it did.

On returning to UAE, I feel that this experience resonated with me. I’m not sure how to explain it, but it was partly magic - like being put under a spell of enchantment. And I’m so happy that I had the opportunity to live the magic of Venice and be part of this programme.

Asma says:

While working on one of my research investigations during the Venice Internship programme, I came across an interesting story about Peggy Guggenheim who was a patron, collector and key influencing figure on 20th century art. I learned that Peggy’s first job was a clerk at Sunwise Turn, an avant-garde bookstore in New York. Even though her daily tasks revolved around managing the cashier or writing cheques, this experience marked her first exposure to the forward-thinking artistic and intellectual scene of her generation. This seemingly humble job was the jumpstart to her life-long infatuation with and support for the artistic community.

In a lot of ways my experience with the internship was similar to that. I got the chance to rub shoulders with contractors from Venice, craftsman from Sicily, architects from Rome and interns from Padova; and each of them had something to teach. Not only that, through the research opportunities offered by the programme, I also got a chance to meet -albeit in spirit- inspirational figures like Cino Zucchi, Carlo Scarpa and Peggy Guggenheim. More importantly, I got an insight into the intellectual psyche of professionals from another part of the world who happen to do things a little differently than ourselves. This internship, therefore, became a field for exchanging ideas, getting rid of preconceptions and developing new outlooks. Perhaps in that sense, the internship becomes a ‘Sunwise Turn’ for those seeking an experience that will, at the very least, result in a newfound perspective.

* Follow the rest of the interns on @veniceinterns and #veniceinterns on instagram and twitter

** Video: time-lapse video of the construction of the pavilion, filmed and edited by Reem Hantoush

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If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.

When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.

How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
The bio

Date of Birth: April 25, 1993
Place of Birth: Dubai, UAE
Marital Status: Single
School: Al Sufouh in Jumeirah, Dubai
University: Emirates Airline National Cadet Programme and Hamdan University
Job Title: Pilot, First Officer
Number of hours flying in a Boeing 777: 1,200
Number of flights: Approximately 300
Hobbies: Exercising
Nicest destination: Milan, New Zealand, Seattle for shopping
Least nice destination: Kabul, but someone has to do it. It’s not scary but at least you can tick the box that you’ve been
Favourite place to visit: Dubai, there’s no place like home

The rules of the road keeping cyclists safe

Cyclists must wear a helmet, arm and knee pads

Have a white front-light and a back red-light on their bike

They must place a number plate with reflective light to the back of the bike to alert road-users

Avoid carrying weights that could cause the bike to lose balance

They must cycle on designated lanes and areas and ride safe on pavements to avoid bumping into pedestrians

Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut

Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”

Know before you go
  • Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
  • If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
  • By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
  • Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
  • Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.

 

Company profile

Company: Verity

Date started: May 2021

Founders: Kamal Al-Samarrai, Dina Shoman and Omar Al Sharif

Based: Dubai

Sector: FinTech

Size: four team members

Stage: Intially bootstrapped but recently closed its first pre-seed round of $800,000

Investors: Wamda, VentureSouq, Beyond Capital and regional angel investors

Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
  • Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
  • Rational thinking: Breathe and avoid emotional decision-making; let logic and planning guide your actions.
  • Strategic patience: Understand why you’re investing and allow time for your strategies to unfold.
 
 
German intelligence warnings
  • 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
  • 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
  • 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250 

Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The specs

Engine: 8.0-litre, quad-turbo 16-cylinder

Transmission: 7-speed auto

0-100kmh 2.3 seconds

0-200kmh 5.5 seconds

0-300kmh 11.6 seconds

Power: 1500hp

Torque: 1600Nm

Price: Dh13,400,000

On sale: now

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