In the geopolitical context of the Holy Land, the combination of historical events, myths, and traditions has fostered the creation of a multiplicity of places that are sacred to competing religions, communities, and affiliations. Because of their supreme importance, many of these places have become arenas of bitter struggle, yet they continue to operate through a delicate web of ongoing political negotiations and arrangements. In Statu Ciao : Structures of Negotiation-the theme of the Israeli Pavilion at the 16th International Architecture Exhibition, La Biennale di Venezia-traces the complex and controversial mechanism of coexistence that was established in the nineteenth century : the Status Quo. Focusing on five major contested holy sites that encapsulate this spatio-political phenomenon, it follows the processes, decisions, and actions through which monumental sites are regulated and shaped. In Statu Quo suggests not only the instrumental use of architecture to lay claims in the conflict, but also its capacity to negotiate between different identities through spatial occurrences and programmatic possibilities.
