WEEK IN REVIEW

INTERVIEW: IRISH PAVILION AT THE VENICE ARCHITECTURE BIENNALE

designboom spoke with architect peter cody, one of the curators of the irish pavilion, to learn more about the country's participation at the ongoing venice architecture biennale. titled 'in search of hy-brasil', the exhibition examines remote island communities, their culture and mythology, in order to inspire new ways of inhabiting the world. 'as we go forward in dealing with issues of climate change, analyzing how people in these communities live, deal with resources, and adjust themselves accordingly to the environment, can be very instructive,' cody explains. read our conversation in full here, and discover more recent interviews here.

NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY REOPENS IN LONDON

following a three-year redevelopment project – its biggest one since it first opened in 1896 – london's national portrait gallery welcomed visitors inside its fully refurbished spaces last week. alongside the architectural renovation, led by jamie fobert architects, the gallery has undertaken a comprehensive re-display and reinterpretation of its portrait collection in an effort to tell a richer version of UK's history and culture. in addition, the building's three new entrance doors are now covered by 45 portraits that ‘represent every woman’, hand drawn by british artist tracey emin and cast in bronze.

FLOATING LENSES CAPTURE FRAGMENTS OF THE JOSHUA TREE DESERT

mesmerizing fresnel lenses appear to levitate in french artist vincent leroy's latest installation at joshua tree. titled 'floating lenses', the kinetic art mobile captures fragments of the desert landscape in an interplay of light and imagery. see more submissions by our readers here, and find out how to upload your own project here.

the weekly is an inside review curated by sofia lekka angelopoulou.