The 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale, curated by Carlo Ratti under the theme Intelligens: Natural. Artificial. Collective, presents a dynamic exploration of architectures evolving role in addressing global challenges.Spanning the Giardini, Arsenale, and various Venetian locales, the Biennale features over 750 contributors and 300 projects that delve into the intersections of technology, ecology, and community.
Main Exhibition: A Triad of Intelligences
At the Arsenales Corderie, the main exhibition is organized into three thematic sections: Natural Intelligence, Artificial Intelligence, and Collective Intelligence.Highlights include Boonserm Premthadas Elephant Chapel, constructed from elephant dung bricks, and the Circularity Handbook, which offers insights into sustainable design practices.The exhibition also features the Speakers Corner, a space for panels and discussions, emphasizing the Biennales commitment to dialogue and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Noteworthy National Pavilions
-
Santa Sede (Vatican): Awarded a special mention, the Vaticans Opera Aperta transforms the Santa Maria Ausiliatrice church into a community hub and restoration school. Spearheaded by architects Tatiana Bilbao, Anna Puigjaner, and Marina Otero Verzier, the project emphasizes architecture as a tool for social engagement and ecological mindfulness.
-
Australia: Home, presented by the first all-Indigenous design team, is a rammed-earth structure reflecting Aboriginal connections to the land. The pavilion invites visitors to contemplate the meaning of home through Indigenous perspectives, fostering cultural exchange and understanding.
-
United Kingdom: GBR: Geology of Britannic Repair critically examines Britains colonial legacy through installations like Double Vision and Rift Room. The pavilion challenges visitors to reflect on historical narratives and the potential for architectural healing.
-
Denmark: Build of Site, curated by Søren Pihlmann, showcases sustainable practices by repurposing materials from the existing pavilion structure. The live construction site demonstrates innovative approaches to material reuse and environmental responsibility.
-
Belgium: Building Biospheres explores the integration of plant intelligence into architectural design. Led by Bas Smets and Stefano Mancuso, the pavilion envisions buildings as ecosystems that contribute to environmental resilience.
-
Japan: IN-BETWEEN – A Future with Generative AI delves into the synergy between human creativity and artificial intelligence. The pavilion, curated by Jun Aoki, utilizes AI-driven processes to reimagine architectural spaces, reflecting on the evolving relationship between technology and design.
-
Brazil: (RE)INVENTION investigates the fusion of ancestral knowledge with contemporary urban infrastructure. The pavilion highlights sustainable design strategies inspired by Indigenous practices and recent archaeological discoveries in the Amazon.
-
United States: PORCH: An Architecture of Generosity examines the porch as a space of social interaction and environmental adaptability. The pavilion features installations from over 50 contributors, emphasizing the porchs role in fostering community and cultural exchange.
- The Kingdom of Bahrain: Heatwave exhibition, curated by architect Andrea Faraguna has been announced as the winner of the Golden Lion for the Best National Participation at the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale. The winner has been selected by an international jury comprising of Swiss curator, critic, and art historian Hans Ulrich Obrist as jury chair, South African architect, lecturer, and curator Mpho Matsipa, and Italian curator Paola Antonelli. The awards ceremony is broadcast live from the headquarters of the Biennale at CaGiustinian. The pavilion stands out for addressing the pressing issue of extreme heat through a site-specific installation that showcases passive cooling strategies rooted in Bahrains climatic realities and cultural context.
Satellite Exhibitions and Special Projects
Beyond the national pavilions, the Biennale includes notable satellite exhibitions:
-
Fondation Cartier Preview: Jean Nouvels upcoming design for the Fondation Cartier in Paris is previewed on San Giorgio Maggiore. The exhibition showcases models and drawings that highlight the buildings adaptive and artist-centric features.
-
Rolex Pavilion: Designed by Mariam Issoufou, the Rolex Pavilion in the Giardini emphasizes sustainability through its use of recycled materials and features multimedia exhibits on sustainable architecture, including projects in Beirut and renovations in Milan and Tokyo.
Resources
https://www.wallpaper.com/architecture/2025-british-pavilion-in-venice-biennale
https://www.wallpaper.com/architecture/rolex-pavilion-venice-architecture-biennale-2025
