I appreciated the 17th Architecture Biennale of 2021 curated by Hashim Sarkis, How Will We Live Together?, more than any other edition, but the 19th Architecture Biennale, curated by Carlo Ratti, represents a new exhibition model, where the voices selected by the curator were chosen after a long international call that saw the emergence of 750 active specialists active in other related fields.
After two editions of the Biennale, both art and architecture, somewhat skewed towards a single worldview—Africa for the 2023 Architecture Biennale curated by Lesley Lokko and Latin America for the 2024 Art Biennale directed by Adriano Pedrosa—here comes finally a Biennale that brings projects from all over the world to the exhibition.
It has been described as a bulimic Biennale, because there were 750 participants, more than ever before (many of these studios consist of multiple people), and because 300 projects were presented in the Arsenale spaces alone. That’s a lot, but with the Giardini’s central pavilion closed for renovations, the curator had no choice but to focus all projects in the Arsenale.
Curator Carlo Ratti launched a call for ideas and selected proposals not only from architects but also from researchers and creatives at 360 degrees. The goal? Proposals consistent with the concept of intelligence—natural, artificial, and collective—to help us live better, preserve various species, adapt to the environment, and tackle future challenges.
Intelligence takes care of us
The first space you encounter at the Arsenale is probably my favorite, so if you visit the Biennale with me, you’ll know where we’ll stop first.
This space is dedicated to intelligence in its truest sense, to care: a gesture of environmental care. Visiting it, a song by Franco Battiato comes to mind:
I will look after all diseases because I will take care of you…
We should have taken care of our planet…
But indiscriminate exploitation, a shortsighted view of resources, and an unsustainable lifestyle have brought us to a critical point: today, we can no longer “take care” of the environment, because uncontrolled population growth, pollution, and global warming have led us to the point of no return.
Now, we must find new paths—as always happens in times of crisis.
The projects in the first space of the Biennale remind us of this. The works selected by Carlo Ratti examine the often-catastrophic predictions concerning our environment. We cannot go back, Ratti seems to tell us; consequently, these proposals focus on adapting to environmental and climate changes, which are now undeniable. How have other living species adapted? How have they evolved?
I wouldn’t want to take away the pleasure of discovery…
Venice at the Heart of the Biennale
The curator had promised to place Venice at the center of the project as a laboratory—and, indeed, he has done so.
For a Venetian, this is the most engaging part of the Biennale because Venice is here—both the Venice of the past and that of a possible, hypothetical future. Of course, these are just projects, but the delicacy and respect with which the city is presented at the beginning of the exhibition demonstrate great sensitivity toward this fragile place—just as do the projects displayed at the conclusion.
In one of the dialogues with specialists from various disciplines held at the Arsenale, curator Carlo Ratti spoke about his choices regarding the Biennale and his relationship with Venice. Here is a brief summary of this dialogue:
<<The open call represented a challenge due to the amount of information to manage, but it was one of the most rewarding experiences because it allowed the discovery of new voices and talents from around the world. This event reflects the approach of the Biennale, which seeks to learn from nature through a process of experimentation, just like Venice, a fragile city but an ideal laboratory to address global challenges, from climate change to mass tourism. The MOSE is an example of a dynamic solution to counteract rising sea levels, making Venice a unique model. Ultimately, it is recognized that history proceeds with progress, but sometimes the past resurfaces and reshuffles the cards>>.
In summary
The 19th International Architecture Exhibition, curated by Carlo Ratti, focuses on the theme Intelligence. Natural. Artificial. A collective event with a multidisciplinary approach intertwining urban planning, philosophy, and technology. Through installations and projects by urban planners, philosophers, and innovators, the 2025 Biennale offers concrete insights on how planning can adapt to global changes and contribute to a better future. The result is an enjoyable and accessible exhibition for a diverse audience, not just industry professionals.
Architecture Biennale 2025
The Golden Lions
- Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement: awarded to philosopher Donna Haraway for her Manifesto Cyborg.
- Special Golden Lion in Memoriam: awarded posthumously to architect Italo Rota.
- Golden Lion for the project Canal Café by Diller Scofidio + Renfro – café with Lagoon water in collaboration with chef Davide Oldani.
- Motivation: “Canal Café redefines the relationship between the city and Venice’s waters, serving as a laboratory for new sustainability models, offering an important contribution to the urban public space.”
- The Golden Lion for Best National Participation goes to the Pavilion of the Kingdom of Bahrain with Heatwave, showcasing a strong reflection on climate and architecture.
Venice, June 2025. Link to Italian version
I look forward to discovering it together with you
Fiorella Pagotto — Art historian, author of essays and artist biographies. I also specialize in architectural history and restoration and have been a tour guide in Venice and the Venetian villas since 2013, the year I passed the Veneto Region’s official exam.
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