On 12 September the team at Gareth Hoskins Architects, along with partners and children, enjoyed a wonderful weekend study trip to the Venice Architecture Biennale 2008.

The main excitement of the trip was, of course, the launch of the Scottish Pavilion ‘A Gathering Space’ which looked stunning in its location in the Piazzale della Stazione Santa Lucia right beside the Grand Canal. The opening party for the Gareth Hoskins Architects designed structure - a grand 7m high set of stairs - was held on the Friday evening and was a great success, with live music, warm weather and enthusiastic attendees, including many friends and colleagues from Scotland and further afield.

The warm weather broke on Saturday with tremendous thunderstorms and torrential rain for almost 24 hours, but most people still managed to sample the delights of Venice and absorb the cultural offerings of the many exhibits in the Giardini and Arsenale - all in all a great trip!.