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Forbes
5 days ago
- Forbes
6 Intriguing Installations At The Venice Biennale Of Architecture 2025
Terms and Conditions, the immersive exhibition at the first room of the Corderie dell'Arsenale 'We shape our buildings and afterwards they shape us'. This seminal quote by Winston Churchill is often said in architecture gatherings because it rings true. This especially applies in Venice—a low-lying city built on a network of 150 canals and therefore one of the most susceptible to climate change. It's not surprising that the perils of a warming world inspired many of the installations at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition, which runs in Venice until November 23, 2025. Curated by Carlo Ratti, this year's edition called for innovative design solutions to today's pressing challenges under the theme Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective. With 750 participants, 300 projects and 66 national pavilions, there's plenty to explore from the Arsenale to the Giardini as well as the city beyond. Here are six standout installations and pavilions that tackled the timely topic of sustainability, circularity and climate change with flair. Terms and Conditions focuses on the omnipresence of air-conditioning in our modern life Setting the tone for the biennale, the opening room at Corderie dell'Arsenale holds an immersive exhibition by Transsolar, Bilge Kobas, Daniel A. Barber, and Sonia Seneviratne centered around a necessity today: air conditioning. Upon entering, one is plunged into darkness and greeted by palpable heat from air conditioning exhausts. One is also forced to focus the eye on dimly-lit pools—water that is generated by the constant air conditioning. By putting people on the other side of air conditioned comfort, the installation forces viewers to confront the reality of our modern life. Called Heatwave, the Bahrain pavilion received the Golden Lion for Best National Participation 2025 From collapsing glaciers in Switzerland to record-breaking temperatures in the Middle East, news on soaring heat are making headlines everywhere. This is exactly what Bahrain's national pavilion, entitled Heatwave, tackles head on. Curated by architect Andrea Faraguna, the site-specific installation showcases the design of public spaces and proposes innovative (and passive) ways to cool them. By sharing experimental solutions to tackle extreme heat conditions, the pavilion was given the Golden Lion for Best National Participation 2025. Elephant Chapel by Boonsem Premthada Architecture is made from elephant dung Reuse, reduce, recycle—the idea of circularity has been drilled into us for the longest time. It's a joy to find a playful idea that repurposes what is considered waste into something useful, even whimsical. Created by Boonsem Premthada Architecture, Elephant Chapel looks like an ordinary 4-meter arch built using organic materials. Organic it is indeed: the light bricks are made from elephant dung; they also resemble mud-bricks, which is a construction material that's been used in ancient buildings from Peru to Egypt. Build of Site, the Danish Pavilion at Venice Biennale of Architecture 2025 The travel industry might get the public blame but according to a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report, 'The buildings and construction sector is by far the largest emitter of greenhouse gases, accounting for a staggering 37% of global emissions.' This is what first comes to mind when you see the Danish Pavilion, which looks like it's in the middle of a renovation. Curated by architect Søren Pihlmann, the pieces used to create the installation were actually sourced from the scene itself. This drives home the point that there's immense potential in reusing existing materials and resources instead of always looking for something new. Canal Café, an installation by Diller Scofidio + Renfro Would you drink coffee made with Venice's grey-blue lagoon water? This crazy idea forms the backbone of Canal Cafè, an installation by Diller Scofidio + Renfro. The premise is simple: to find a way to make existing water potable enough to create espressos (and yes, you can actually order one if you visit). The team set up a laboratory-like contraption at the edge of the Arsenale, which allows you to see the purification process as it unfolds. The machine draws water from the lagoon, it is purified naturally then treated with reverse osmosis and UV light to kill germs. With myriad potential applications, it's no surprise this innovation won the Golden Lion for the best participation. Building Biospheres, the Belgian pavilion at Venice Biennale of Architecture 2025 Developers, architects and designers have created buildings that have little to do with its environment. Biophilic architecture has resulted in a more sustainable approach, but structures that truly celebrate nature are few and far between. This missed connection is emphasized at the Belgian pavilion. Commissioned by the Flanders Architecture Institute and curated by Bas Smets and Stefano Mancus, the installation encourages everyone to look at nature not just as a backdrop, but as the main driver on how to build. Putting the spotlight on the growing field of 'plant intelligence', it shows there's still plenty to learn from Mother Earth. The 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia runs until November 23, 2025
Straits Times
23-05-2025
- General
- Straits Times
Design Cues: Singapore serves up feast of citymaking ideas at Venice biennale
Visitors at the Rasa-Tabula-Singapura exhibition at the Singapore Pavilion at the Arsenale in Venice. The pavilion is part of the 19th Venice Architecture Biennale. PHOTO: GIULIO BOEM Visitors at the Rasa-Tabula-Singapura exhibition at the Singapore Pavilion at the Arsenale in Venice. The pavilion is part of the 19th Venice Architecture Biennale. PHOTO: GIULIO BOEM SINGAPORE – Pull up a chair at the world's most diverse table at the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale, where the Singapore Pavilion transforms the act of dining into a celebration of citymaking through food, culture and collective design. To mark Singapore's 60th year of independence (SG60), the pavilion invites the world to experience its Table of Superdiversity, defined by the island's distinctive identity, shaped by centuries of movement, exchange and reinvention. In urban planning, superdiversity refers to the multifaceted nature of diversity in societies, particularly in urban areas, as a result of complex migration patterns. It goes beyond ethnic diversity and considers factors such as legal status, socio-economic conditions and individual identities. The Singapore Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2025 was launched on May 9 and will be open to the public till Nov 23. Called Rasa-Tabula-Singapura, this year's theme combines ancient languages as a play on the architectural term 'tabula rasa', meaning 'blank slate' in Latin. Using local desserts or 'kueh' as a leitmotif, some of Singapore's most distinctive landmarks have been converted into sumptuous desserts, designed as food for thought. Walk around the installation and one will find Housing Board blocks that look like kueh salat ('glutinous rice and custard' in Malay), Golden Mile Complex converted into kueh lapis ('layer cake' in Malay) and the Art Science Museum as huat kueh ('lucky cake' in Hokkien). Housing Board blocks that look like kueh salat ('glutinous rice and custard' in Malay). PHOTOS: DR IMMANUEL KOH, ARTIFICIAL-ARCHITECTURE, SUTD The Venice Architecture Biennale is the world's leading exhibition on architectural ideas and innovation, held every two years in Venice, Italy. The 2025 edition, the exhibition's 19th, features a record 66 national pavilions. The biennale transforms Venice into a living laboratory with exhibitions and installations across the historic Giardini della Biennale, the vast Arsenale and other sites from palaces to public squares. The ArtScience Museum as huat kueh ('lucky cake' in Hokkien). PHOTOS: DR IMMANUEL KOH, ARTIFICIAL-ARCHITECTURE, SUTD The Singapore curatorial team looked at how the idea of 'tabula rasa' is often associated with the tearing down of old buildings. But it is also about expanding, regenerating and recreating. The team reinterpreted it as 'Rasa' ('taste' in Malay), 'Tabula' ('table' in Latin) and 'Singapura', derived from the Sanskrit words 'simha' (lion) and 'pur' (city). The Golden Mile Complex as kek lapis ('layer cake' in Malay). PHOTOS: DR IMMANUEL KOH, ARTIFICIAL-ARCHITECTURE, SUTD The pavilion was commissioned by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and DesignSingapore Council (DSG), and organised by the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD). The multidisciplinary team of curators includes Professor Tai Lee Siang, Professor Khoo Peng Beng, Professor Erwin Viray, Dr Jason Lim, Assistant Professor Immanuel Koh and Associate Professor Sam Conrad Joyce. The team has curated a 'menu' of architectural and urban planning projects, with 'main courses' highlighting key developments and districts such as Pinnacle@Duxton, an iconic public housing development in Singapore. 'Side dishes' showcase innovations in design, policy and community-building , which contribute to the nation's strength as a multicultural powerhouse in the region . The Pavilion's tablescape reflects and applies biennale curator Carlo Ratti's overarching theme of 'Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective'. This explores how different forms of intelligence – drawn from nature, technology (such as artificial intelligence or AI) and collective human effort – can help architecture respond to urgent global challenges such as the climate crisis. Co-curator Prof Khoo relates his own experience designing the 50-storey HDB project Pinnacle@Duxton, completed in 2009, which explored vertical living as a framework for superdiversity – where density, design and innovation came together in the sky . Prof Khoo and his wife, architect Belinda Huang, are the founders of home-grown practice Arc Studio Architecture + Urbanism. They collaborated with RSP Architects Planners and Engineers on the project. 'With Pinnacle@Duxton, we moved from single developments to district-scale planning,' says Prof Khoo, who is also head of the SUTD's Architecture and Sustainable Design Pillar. 'Projects like Tengah and Changi Airport demonstrate how Singapore applies the same design sensibility to shaping entire ecosystems of liveability and movement,' he says. 'These ideas continue through our research and teaching at SUTD, where planning for the future means designing for complexity. It's one expression of a city always planning ahead, always becoming.' Another example on display on the dining table is CapitaSpring, a 280m-tall tropical high-rise in the heart of Singapore's Central Business District that illustrates the city's progressive planning. The biophilic spectacle is a showcase of Singapore's Landscaping for Urban Spaces and High-Rises (Lush) policy, requiring developers to replace greenery lost on the ground with vertical landscapes. Over 80,000 plants are woven into the tower's fabric, including a soaring four-storey Green Oasis 100m above ground, one of Singapore's highest publicly accessible gardens within a commercial building. CapitaSpring is home to a four-storey Green Oasis garden 100m above ground. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI Ms Yap Lay Bee, co-commissioner of the Singapore Pavilion and URA's group director of Architecture and Urban Design, says that through thoughtful urban planning and design, the agency has created environments that inspire and support how Singaporeans live, work, play and connect. 'In land-scarce Singapore, we need to balance density, diversity and design,' she says. Planning policies, cultural values, environmental priorities and community needs are considered and integrated to create and shape spaces that are inclusive, resilient and adaptable. Ms Yap adds: 'Rasa-Tabula-Singapura offers a sensory map of that approach, inviting visitors to experience the thoughtful processes that have shaped our nation's transformation in the last 60 years. 'It is not just a showcase of what we have built, but also a reflection of how we imagine, and continue to reimagine, our future.' Visitors at the Rasa-Tabula-Singapura exhibition at the Singapore Pavilion at the Arsenale in Venice. PHOTO: GIULIO BOEM As a nation by design, Singapore's socio-economic needs, demographics, policies, and spatial negotiations have guided its urban planning, says Ms Dawn Lim, co-commissioner of the Singapore Pavilion and DSG's executive director. 'Such intelligence not only reflects our design-led development for the last 60 years, but will continue to chart the course for our future,' she adds. 'Centring on the concept of superdiversity, this year's Singapore Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale showcases how the convergence of unique multicultural differences, collective histories, design and new technology offers opportunities for more inclusive, adaptive urban futures.' Prof Khoo says the SUTD team of designers envisioned biennale curator Mr Ratti's theme of intelligence as more than just using artificial intelligence to make an installation. They wanted it to also fete Singapore's collective intelligence as a city. The aim was to show how a city's compactness – once regarded as a weakness, due to living in close quarters – has been turned into its strength. 'Our city is likened to latent space in the world of AI,' says Prof Khoo. Latent space in AI is like a summary that helps computers make sense of complicated data, instead of looking at every tiny detail. This makes it easier to find patterns, understand data and create anew. Prof Khoo adds that latent space captures the essence of the layers of information in a compact way, allowing the decoding of new creative combinations. 'Similarly, our compact city creates a latent space where the essence of various layers of information becomes a source of our creativity and innovation,' he points out. 'This has contributed dramatically to our rapid transformation in just 60 years from a resource-starved nation into a nation with one of the highest gross domestic product per capita and longest life expectancy in the world.' Info: Go to Design Cues is a new column that explores ideas at the intersection of design and art. Designer and lifestyle journalist Chantal Sajan writes on design and architecture. 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Time Out Dubai
19-05-2025
- Business
- Time Out Dubai
Etihad Rail passenger train 2026: A sneak peek of what rides will be like
The highly anticipated Etihad Rail passenger service is set to launch next year – and we couldn't be more excited. The passenger service will connect every emirate and make travelling in and out of Dubai much easier. While the entire network of tracks are already in place for the national railway service's freight operations, we face a wait for the passenger service. However, proving the future is right on track, one lucky passenger has shared a video of their exclusive experience onboard and it has fully exceeded our expectations. The sneak peek of what it would be like to travel from Abu Dhabi to Fujairah via Dubai by train. You might also like: A guide to Etihad Rail: High-speed rail, passenger service, dates and more Not yet open to the public, the exclusive trip was part of the fifth module of the UAE's leadership program, and it sounds like an unforgettable five-star experience. The lucky passenger, Sarah Adel Luqman, described it as 'seamless comfort, world-class service, and breathtaking views,' calling it one of the top highlights of 2025. You might also like: 34 huge traffic improvement projects coming soon to Dubai She praised the professionalism of the Etihad Rail team and thanked the UAE leadership for their visionary infrastructure goals. Not to mention, the trip offered a front-row seat to the country's next big leap in sustainable travel – let's be honest, we're ready to pack our bags. What's the latest Etihad Rail news? While the service is still closed to the public, the first passenger routes are inching closer. The full network will connect 11 cities from Al Sila in the west to Fujairah in the east, linking major stops like Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Al Ruwais, and Sharjah. The stations? Four are confirmed and being built. The tickets? Not priced yet, but RTA's nol card is expected to be part of the payment options. And the trains? Think plush seats, charging ports, entertainment systems and Orient Express-style luxury thanks to a partnership with the Italian firm Arsenale. If this sneak preview is anything to go by, Etihad Rail is shaping up to be the UAE's most stylish (and sustainable) ride yet. Watch this space. More news in Dubai Dubai reveals plans for quicker bus journeys More than 11,000 trips are made daily on city Dubai Creek just got a Dhs112 million glow-up The big changes explained Dubai is going cashless: This is what it means for you Say goodbye to coins and notes
Korea Herald
13-05-2025
- General
- Korea Herald
Architects across globe urge climate action at Venice Biennale
Venice Architecture Biennale 2025 brings together like-minded architects, engineers, artists proposing indigenous, nature-friendly solutions VENICE, Italy — Visitors confront darkness in a room filled with suspended air conditioners and water pools; the uncomfortable, stuffy and humid environment alerts people to the issues at stake without saying a word. The installation 'The Third Paradise Perspective' at the Venice Biennale 2025 calls for collective responsibility and action. 'Architecture has always been a response to climate — an act of shelter, survival and optimism. From the first primitive huts to the submerged foundations of Venice, human design has evolved in dialogue with nature. Today, that evolution is no longer a choice but a necessity: climate change is not a future scenario, but a present reality,' the text introducing the exhibition states Venice Biennale's 19th international architecture exhibition kicked off Thursday across Venice with the overarching theme of 'Intelligence. Natural. Artificial. Collective,' led by curator Carlo Ratti. The biennale's main exhibition at the Arsenale was joined by more than 750 architects, engineers, artists and climate scientists, marking the largest number of participants ever for a main exhibition. Curating on such a large scale was possible through the curatorial team's open call for participants who share similar concerns, according to the organizer. The Golden Lion award for the best national participation went to the Kingdom of Bahrain, one of the 66 national pavilions presented at the biennale. The national pavilion offered a viable proposal for extreme heat conditions, using the traditional passive cooling methods typical of the region and reminiscent of wind towers used in hot climates such as the Kingdom of Bahrain. 'Architecture must address the dual challenges of environmental resilience and sustainability. The indigenous solution can be deployed in public spaces and in locations where people must live and work outdoors in conditions of extreme heat,' the designers of the pavilion, led by curator Andrea Faraguna, explained. The South Korean exhibition "Little Toad Little Toad: Unbuilding Pavilion," curated by the Curating Architecture Collective, took its inspiration from the architecture of the space itself — how it was built, preserving the trees around the space and even their roots. South Korea's pavilion was constructed in the Giardini in 1995 and is the last permanent national pavilion built. 'The balcony tree was here in the corner of the space, designated for preservation during the design of the Korean Pavilion. The archival records of the pavilion show that the architects had to come up with a design to embrace the tree, which has since died and been removed," curator Chung Da-young told the press. The Spain Pavilion introduced projects by 16 studios that emphasize local, regenerative and low-carbon materials, naming the presentation "Architectures for Territorial Equilibrium." "Every time we construct a space, we deconstruct another elsewhere. Building and territory are thus intimately connected through a material bond. It is the responsibility of architects to ensure that this bond is a positive one," the text on the wall at the national pavilion reads. Qatar Museums showcased a two-part exhibition at the Giardini on the site of the future Qatar Pavilion and the ACP-Palazzo Franchetti located near the Accademia Bridge, exploring the architecture of the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia from the mid-20th century to today. 'As we continue to shape a cultural landscape of dialogue and exchange, this exhibition serves as a testament to Qatar's role in fostering a deeper understanding of our diverse architectural heritage,' said Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who serves as chair of Qatar Museums and is the daughter of Qatar's former ruling emir, Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. Along with the main exhibition and national pavilions, various exhibitions coincide with the biennale, bringing together renowned architects from around the world. The exhibition 'For All That Breathes on Earth: Jung Youngsun and Collaborators' at the SMAC San Marco Art Center marked one of the inaugural shows at the newly opened arts center at the heart of the Piazza San Marco. The exhibition centers on the projects by Jung Young-sun, a first-generation contemporary landscape architect and the first woman licensed as a land development engineer in Korea. It shows how the 84-year-old landscape architect advocated for resilience and sustainability in landscape design in collaboration with architects, biologists and urban planners. 'A lot of designers and landscape architects, they are trying to show their design a lot, but Jung's design is somehow quiet and natural,' said Pritzker Prize-winning British architect David Chipperfield, who appeared at the exhibition and collaborated with Jung in the Amorepacific Headquarters project in Seoul. The British architect restored the Procuratie, three connected buildings along the perimeter of the plaza, which now leases the space to the SMAC, and comprises 16 galleries. The design of another Pritzker laureate, French architect Jean Nouvel, for the new Foundation Cartier was also unveiled in Venice. It is expected to open in fall 2025.
Times
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Ca' di Dio hotel review: a Venice hotel perfectly positioned for art lovers
S et just east of landmark San Marco square in a lagoon-front former monastery dating to 1272, Ca' di Dio — House of God — isn't what you expect in historic Venice. There's quirky contemporary art instead of the city-standard oil paintings; playful pops of colour rather than muted medieval tones; a cascading waterfall chandelier in the reception rather than trad candelabra-style Murano. It's all rather fitting though, given Ca' di Dio is on the doorstep of Arsenale, Venice's contemporary art district and home to the world-leading biennale every May to November. The hotel is progressive in other ways too, taking a sustainable stance with staff clothing made from regenerated fishing nets and industrial plastic, and a cooling system powered by water drawn directly from the lagoon. This article contains affiliate links, which may earn us revenue Score 8/10 Housed inside a historic monastery, rooms come in all shapes and sizes, with top-floor, lagoon-facing spaces having a loft-like feel with smaller windows and beamed ceilings. The two largest suites, which sleep up to four people, come with rooftop terraces and views across to postcard pin-up island San Giorgio Maggiore. All 66 rooms come in sea-blue and white tones with Murano glass lamps, marble-topped tables and russet-hued bathrooms with organic Italian hemp oil toiletries (though only a couple of them are furnished with a bathtub). Heaven-sent during Venice's sweltering humid summers, the air conditioning is gorgeously icy. Score 7/10 Over a morning buffet brekkie of Italian meats, cheeses and frothy cappuccino in the courtyard garden, you'll spot upmarket couples, young families and arty business associates chowing down among the trees and colourful art installations. By nightfall the same space becomes the atmospheric Alchemia Bar, where laid-back and friendly staff knock up Venetian spritzes, negronis and more. Main fine-dining restaurant Vero is ambitious in its culinary techniques and service, offering tasting menus featuring the likes of lobster bisque cappelletti with parmesan, and Select Spritz jelly with popping candy. There is a good selection of Venetian wines but only two window tables overlooking the lagoon, so if you want to dine with a view, book ahead. • Discover our full guide to Italy • More great hotels in Venice Score 8/10 Off the lobby, a lounge-cum-library space provides a quiet setting for a coffee, evening aperitif or a few minutes with a book. The Pura City Spa provides relaxing treatments after a day of pounding the Venice pavements, including a Bauta facial with white mulberry, prickly pear and vitamin C, and toning body scrubs with Venetian sea salt. The hotel also comes with its own water access so you can arrive direct from the airport by water taxi, with no need to navigate the tangle of Venetian streets on foot with luggage in tow. Score 8/10 It doesn't get better for the biennale: the Arsenale site is a five-minute walk away and the Giardini outpost 12 minutes. You're also only ten minutes from the Bridge of Sighs and not much further from Piazza San Marco, with the rest of the Venice big-hitters still relatively accessible on foot from there. There is a vaporetto stop very nearby, should you want to explore further afield. The cicchetti bars of nearby Via Giuseppe Garibaldi, five minutes' walk to the east, provide a more local flavour than some of those in the tourist heart; join the after-work crowd munching charcuterie at friendly El Refolo. Price B&B doubles from £404 Restaurant mains from £37 Family-friendly Y Accessible N Alicia Phillips was a guest of Ca' di Dio ( • Best things to do in Venice • Best affordable hotels in Venice
