Latest news with #AzzaAboualam
Gulf Today
10-05-2025
- General
- Gulf Today
Pressure Cooker serves food security at National Pavilion UAE in Venice
The National Pavilion UAE at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition at La Biennale di Venezia (May 10 – Nov. 23, pre-opening May 8, 9), has opened with Pressure Cooker, curated by Azza Aboualam, Emirati architect and Assistant Professor at Zayed University and Co-founder of Holesum Studio. The exhibition poses a central question: Using the UAE as a case study, how can architecture contribute to greater global food security? Pressure Cooker could refer to the kitchen appliance and its versatility, the buildup of humidity within the greenhouse, or the intensifying pressures of the ongoing climate crisis. As climate change disrupts agricultural systems, traditional farming methods face mounting threats, from soil degradation to temperature extremes. The exhibition examines how architecture can respond to these challenges by proposing a series of experimental adaptive greenhouse assemblies for arid landscapes. It situates the UAE's agricultural landscape in the larger global context, exploring how architectural thinking can support versatile and resilient food production practices at both individual and community scales. Developed through a methodology that combines archival research, fieldwork and design-build experimentation, Pressure Cooker introduces a modular kit-of-parts for greenhouse assemblies, specifically catering to hot, arid climates. The kit breaks down the architectural vocabulary of the greenhouse into its basic components: roof, wall, floor, tools, and materials. They can be reconfigured in many ways, in different combinations that respond to climatic conditions and crop requirements. The approach proposes a future in which food production and architectural form are intertwined and can be integrated in our built and lived environments anywhere. A panoramic view of Pressure Cooker. Visitors will encounter a series of experimental greenhouse assemblies constructed using different combinations of the kit's components. Each assembly explores how inputs such as sunlight, shading, external temperature, irrigation, ventilation, and thermal mass and outputs such as interior temperature, light levels, humidity and energy use, can be negotiated through architectural form. The inputs and outputs also influence crop yield and detail the most effective ways to design and configure each greenhouse assembly. The exhibition includes crops with regional and historical significance such as cucumbers, while other assemblies demonstrate the ability to grow species rarely associated with desert climates, such as blueberries. The greenhouse assemblies respond to environmental challenges specific to the UAE, while also serving as a testing ground for how such structures might adapt to different contexts, such as Venice. Pressure Cooker thus brings together site-specific cultivation in Venice with research rooted in the UAE; it affirms architecture's role in shaping dynamic, adaptable food infrastructures across diverse climates. The installation is accompanied by multimedia and audio material that traces the exhibition's research phases. Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, UAE Minister of Culture, said that 'Pressure Cooker illustrates how local design solutions can contribute to new perspectives on sustainable urban living.' Angela Migally, Executive Director, Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation (SHF), said: 'Growth, understanding, and dialogue are essential to the continued evolution of the UAE's extraordinary architecture, art, and culture community.' The Foundation is the Commissioner of the Pavilion. Based in Abu Dhabi, the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation is a private not-for-profit foundation committed to the cultivation of a more creative, connected, and thriving UAE community. Laila Binbrek, Director, National Pavilion UAE, commented that 'the National Pavilion UAE continues to play a leading role in shaping the UAE's cultural landscape ... This is reflected in Azza Aboualam's journey, who first engaged with the Pavilion as an intern in 2014. This year's exhibition introduces a new critical lens ... thoughtfully connected to the climate realities of our time.' Azza Aboualam said: 'The exhibition examines how architecture can help identify and address challenges in food production, bringing the UAE closer to its food security goals.' Professor Michael Allen, Acting Vice President of Zayed University, said that 'the partnership between Zayed University and the National Pavilion UAE is an example of our commitment to advancing creativity through research, education, and collaboration.' A publication titled Pressure Cooker Recipes: An Architectural Cookbook edited by Azza Aboualam and published by Kaph Books, accompanies the exhibition. Holesum Studio is an interdisciplinary architecture and design practice based in New York, USA, and Sharjah, UAE. Azza Aboualam co-founded the studio in 2021, a few years after graduating from Yale School of Architecture. Her scholarly interests include the intersection of memory, architecture and society in the Middle East and North Africa region. She worked with the UAE Ministry of Culture's Architecture Initiative, and her field research, sketches and writing were published in the book In Search of Spaces of Coexistence: An Architect's Journey (2019). She also contributed research to Building Sharjah (2021), edited by Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi and Todd Reisz, and Showpiece City: How Architecture Made Dubai (2020), written by Todd Reisz. While working in Sharjah's Department of Public Works, Aboualam managed the design and construction of large-scale projects such as the Aga Khan Award–winning Wasit Wetland Center. The National Pavilion UAE is an independent, non-profit organisation, with a permanent pavilion at the Arsenale – Sale d'Armi. The award-winner curates the untold stories about the UAE's arts and architecture through its participation in the International Art and Architecture Exhibitions organised by La Biennale di Venezia. It is supported by the Ministry of Culture which champions Emirati cultural, artistic, and heritage institutions, providing a platform for creative and talented individuals across various fields, and promoting dialogue between different cultures.
Al Etihad
08-05-2025
- General
- Al Etihad
Minister of Culture opens UAE Pavilion in Venice Biennale
8 May 2025 20:02 VENICE (WAM)Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, UAE Minister of Culture, inaugurated the UAE National Pavilion at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia on pavilion features an innovative exhibition titled 'Pressure Cooker', curated by Azza Aboualam, an architect and Assistant Professor at Zayed University, who also serves as Co-founder and Director of Research at Holesum exhibition poses a central research question, 'Using the United Arab Emirates as a case study, how can architecture contribute to enhancing food security?'. This inquiry emerges in the context of growing challenges facing traditional agricultural systems due to climate change, including soil degradation and rising on in-depth archival and contemporary research in the UAE, the exhibition explores how architecture can respond to these challenges by presenting architectural proposals for greenhouse structures. It places the UAE's agricultural landscape within a broader global context, examining how architectural thinking can support diverse and resilient food production practices at both individual and community through a three-dimensional research methodology that combines archival research, fieldwork, and practical experimentation in design and construction, the exhibition introduces design criteria for modular greenhouse structures specifically tailored to hot, arid climates. These modular structures can be reconfigured in various ways, providing adaptable solutions that respond to local climatic his opening remarks, Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi emphasised the importance of the event, stating, "Architecture shapes our interactions with the environment and has the potential to drive sustainable solutions for the future. The UAE National Pavilion's participation at the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale reaffirms our commitment to global dialogue on design innovation. The 'Pressure Cooker' exhibition highlights how local design solutions can contribute to new perspectives on sustainable urban living."He added, "Over the years, the UAE National Pavilion has become a vital platform for showcasing the depth and diversity of the UAE's creative and intellectual landscape. With each edition, it continues to support local talent, foster cultural exchange, and position the UAE as an active participant in global conversations on architecture, art, and design. Its growing recognition reflects the dynamic and evolving nature of the UAE's cultural scene and its commitment to shaping a sustainable, interconnected future through creativity."Angela Migally, Executive Director of the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation, said, "Through our longstanding partnership with the UAE National Pavilion, we continue to provide a space for meaningful conversations that inspire new ideas and strengthen connections. Growth, understanding, and dialogue are essential to the continued evolution of the UAE's extraordinary architecture, art, and culture community. We are pleased to support 'Pressure Cooker' and its exploration of resilience and the role of design in shaping a more sustainable future."Laila Binbrek, Director of the UAE National Pavilion, commented, "The UAE National Pavilion continues to play a leading role in shaping the country's cultural landscape, enhancing its impact and legacy through initiatives that support architectural discourse in the UAE. This is exemplified by Azza Aboualam's journey—from joining the pavilion as an intern in 2024 to leading this year's exhibition. 'Pressure Cooker' presents a new critical perspective, proposing a future-oriented, multidisciplinary, and climate-responsive approach to architecture."Azza Aboualam, the exhibition's curator, explained, "As the agricultural world undergoes continuous transformation and the threats of climate change intensify, challenges related to food and water security become increasingly urgent, especially in the Gulf region. While prevailing global perspectives on food security often emphasize technological innovation, 'Pressure Cooker' proposes an alternative—creating a shared responsibility among local communities."Professor Michael Allen, Acting Vice President of Zayed University, highlighted the significance of the partnership, stating, "The collaboration between Zayed University and the UAE National Pavilion is an example of our commitment to advancing creativity through research, education, and collaboration. We are proud to support the groundbreaking work of Emirati architect Azza Aboualam, whose project explores the evolving relationship between architecture and food production in the UAE. This initiative provides our students and faculty with direct engagement with innovative architectural research, demonstrating how bold ideas and academic innovation can lead to meaningful local and global impact." Accompanying the exhibition is a publication titled 'All Things Delicious: Architectural Recipes from Pressure Cooker,' edited by Azza Aboualam and published by Kaph Books. This publication blends research, essays, and creative contributions, exploring the intersection between architecture and food production over time. It adopts a cookbook format divided into five main chapters, with texts and illustrations highlighting agricultural practices in arid climates and beyond. It offers new perspectives on the relationship between food production, climate-adaptive design, and urban infrastructure.
The National
08-05-2025
- General
- The National
UAE pavilion rethinks greenhouses for a hotter and hungrier world at Venice Biennale
It all began with a modest box of blueberries. One day, Emirati architect Azza Aboualam brought home groceries and her mother, tasting the blueberries, asked where they were from. To her surprise, they had been grown in the UAE. Blueberries thrive in cool and temperate weather, making their presence in the UAE's arid desert intriguing. 'Where do the desert blueberries come from?' says Aboualam, curator of this year's National Pavilion UAE. 'The question instigated the entire project.' Greenhouses were, of course, the answer – but the discovery prompted Aboualam to rethink how they are built in the UAE and explore the deeper 'back-and-forth relationship between architecture and plants'. At this year's Venice Architecture Biennale, the National Pavilion UAE has turned its focus to food security, exploring how architecture can support agriculture in a changing climate. Greenhouses date back to ancient Rome, where Emperor Tiberius used simple structures to grow cucumbers year-round. Modern variations emerged in the 17th century, gradually evolving through advances in glassmaking and heating. Today, greenhouses are a central component of agriculture around the world. However, they are still very much a European design, and even the greenhouses found in the UAE have been retrofitted and modified for the local context. In short, the technology was never considered from the ground-up for arid environments. Aboualam sought to revamp the greenhouse specifically for the UAE climate. Working with her team at Holesum Studio – a practice based between Sharjah and New York that she cofounded – she developed a series of modular greenhouse assemblies or 'kits-of-parts'. Each kit contains the essential components to create a greenhouse – roof, wall, floor, tools and materials – designed to adapt to different crops, climates and site conditions. The exhibition, Pressure Cooker, presents several assemblies as examples. It transforms the National Pavilion UAE venue into a controlled-environment agricultural site. The first of the greenhouses has a broken arched roof that facilitates airflow. Basil grows in pots set on rammed-earth platforms, raised just above ankle height to shield them from the ground's heat. Tomato shrubs hang from steel pipes, closer to the arched roof. 'The vertical arch and the way it's broken, it can be fitted with panels that open and close when the seasons shift from extremes,' Aboualam says. 'You can open it up let out heat and hot air, and then in the spring it would do the opposite.' This kind of assembly, Aboualam adds, works best in urban areas closer to the coast, such as Dubai or Sharjah. 'There's a lot of humidity, and this essentially mitigates that by having a lot more air flow,' she says. 'Another aspect of this kit of parts is a fan that is positioned across from an evaporative cooling pad and so this cools the space down without the use of air conditioning.' Blueberry plants are displayed on a rammed-earth platform that, this time, rises to knee height. The display is as much a homage to the fruit that inspired the research for the project as it is an example of how platforms can be used to mitigate the heat of the ground. 'Essentially, it shows how [the platform] could be used as geothermal cooling for the greenhouse itself,' Aboualam says. 'With that assembly, you could essentially combine geothermal cooling and a green shade net which cools down the space significantly.' Then comes an assembly that incorporates a recognisable architectural element from the Gulf, and which has long been used to naturally cool spaces: the barjeel, or wind tower. In the context of the greenhouse, the barjeel is much simpler, featuring angled panels that promote airflow. The structure feeds air towards the tomatoes growing in between corrugated glass fibre panels, which also help keep things cool. The fact they are green is also not a mere aesthetic choice. 'The green shade net and the green fibreglass helps reflect a lot of the harmful rays of the sun that can affect the crops,' Aboualam says. The centre of the exhibition is a gathering space that offers insight into the research behind the project. Maps, illustrations and video elements display the field work and build experimentations that informed the work. 'The gathering table mimics the way the research team always gathered around a table to not just eat, but also work,' Aboualam says. 'This invites visitors to come with us on the journey.' One video highlights the archival research that Aboualam and her team carried out in order to understand the overlap between architecture and food production in UAE history. It shows maps dating back to the turn of the 20th century of palm trees growing along the coast of the Trucial States. An illustration of Dibba Fort shows how its watchtowers were built to protect orange groves in Fujairah. There are blueprints from the UAE National Library and Archives that show the inflated greenhouses in Saadiyat, as well as how evaporative cooling techniques were used to lower their temperatures. A map of the UAE shows the 155 sites that Aboualam and her team visited to document agricultural techniques. A second video shows how the 'kits-of-parts' can be arranged in a program that tests their efficacy in various assemblies and contexts. Walls, floors, shades, roofs and material can be organised in different permutations and shapes, ranging from rectangles and squares to arches, each with a unique set of advantages. 'We took all of the knowledge and all of the kits and then fed them in the digital tool, which was developed by Holesum Studio,' Aboualam says. 'It's a digital tool that uses thermal modelling programs, but also architectural programs. 'You put the kits together in different combinations and then assign a location in the UAE. It draws from airport data to tell you the predicted temperatures, how much electricity and water you need to operate the greenhouse.' The final aspect of Pressure Cooker shows an enclosed storage and office space that has been walled using porous polycarbonate panels. The walls feature vertical channels that can be filled with running water, cooling the space within. A video of greenhouses from across the UAE is projected on to one of the walls, but the structure itself offers ideas into how greenhouses can be used in more domestic contexts. 'Hopefully we can take some of these kits and integrate them within a neighbourhood in the UAE,' Aboualam says. 'It can be in someone's backyard, in a school park or within a compound.' While Pressure Cooker positions these greenhouse kits in a UAE context, the design's potential is not limited to within the country's borders. The project prompts new ways of thinking about food sustainability in the face of rising global temperatures. This is one conversation that Aboualam hopes Pressure Cooker sparks during the biennale, which runs from May 10 to November 23. There is a poetic element in bringing a revamped greenhouse back to the country that is credited with its invention, and Aboualam hopes that the kit further democratises the technology and promote self-sufficiency. One clue to that aim lies in the title of the exhibition itself. 'In a pressure cooker, you essentially put ingredients together and it gives you another outcome. That's how the project was conceived,' Aboualam says. 'The goal is that it's approachable enough so people that don't have that much expertise can build these structures and grow their own food.'
The National
08-05-2025
- General
- The National
UAE pavilion reimagines greenhouses for a hotter, hungrier world at Venice Biennale
At this year's Venice Architecture Biennale, the National Pavilion UAE turns its focus to food security, exploring how architecture can support agriculture in a changing climate. And it all began with a modest box of blueberries. One day, Emirati architect Azza Aboualam brought home groceries and her mother, tasting the blueberries, asked where they were from. To her surprise, they had been grown in the UAE. Blueberries thrive in cool and temperate weather – making their presence in the UAE's arid desert intriguing. 'Where do the desert blueberries come from?' says Aboualam, curator of this year's National Pavilion UAE. 'The question instigated the entire project.' Greenhouses were, of course, the answer – but the discovery prompted Aboualam to rethink how they are built in the UAE and explore the deeper 'back-and-forth relationship between architecture and plants'. Greenhouses date back to ancient Rome, where Emperor Tiberius used simple structures to grow cucumbers year-round. Modern variations emerged in the 17th century, gradually evolving through advances in glassmaking and heating. Today, greenhouses are a central component of agriculture around the world. However, they are still very much a European design, and even the greenhouses found in the UAE have been retrofitted and modified for the local context. In short, the technology was never considered from the ground-up for arid environments. Aboualam sought to revamp the greenhouse specifically for the UAE climate. Working with her team at Holesum Studio – a practice based between Sharjah and New York that she cofounded – she developed a series of modular greenhouse assemblies or 'kits-of-parts'. Each kit contains the essential components to create a greenhouse – roof, wall, floor, tools and materials – designed to adapt to different crops, climates and site conditions. The exhibition, Pressure Cooker, presents several assemblies as examples. It transforms the National Pavilion UAE venue into a controlled-environment agricultural site. The first of the greenhouses has a broken arched roof that facilitates airflow. Basil grows in pots set on rammed-earth platforms, raised just above ankle height to shield them from the ground's heat. Tomato shrubs hang from steel pipes, closer to the arched roof. 'The vertical arch and the way it's broken, it can be fitted with panels that open and close when the seasons shift from extremes,' Aboualam says. 'You can open it up let out heat and hot air, and then in the spring it would do the opposite.' This kind of assembly, Aboualam adds, works best in urban areas closer to the coast, such as Dubai or Sharjah. 'There's a lot of humidity, and this essentially mitigates that by having a lot more air flow,' she says. 'Another aspect of this kit of parts is a fan that is positioned across from an evaporative cooling pad and so this cools the space down without the use of air conditioning.' Blueberry plants are displayed on a rammed-earth platform that, this time, rises to knee height. The display is as much a homage to the fruit that inspired the research for the project as it is an example of how platforms can be used to mitigate the heat of the ground. 'Essentially, it shows how [the platform] could be used as geothermal cooling for the greenhouse itself,' Aboualam says. 'With that assembly, you could essentially combine geothermal cooling and a green shade net which cools down the space significantly.' Then comes an assembly that incorporates a recognisable architectural element from the Gulf, and which has long been used to naturally cool spaces: the barjeel, or wind tower. In the context of the greenhouse, the barjeel is much simpler, featuring angled panels that promote airflow. The structure feeds air towards the tomatoes growing in between corrugated glass fibre panels, which also help keep things cool. The fact they are green is also not a mere aesthetic choice. 'The green shade net and the green fibreglass helps reflect a lot of the harmful rays of the sun that can affect the crops,' Aboualam says. The centre of the exhibition is a gathering space that offers insight into the research behind the project. Maps, illustrations and video elements display the field work and build experimentations that informed the work. 'The gathering table mimics the way the research team always gathered around a table to not just eat, but also work,' Aboualam says. 'This invites visitors to come with us on the journey.' One video highlights the archival research that Aboualam and her team carried out in order to understand the overlap between architecture and food production in UAE history. It shows maps dating back to the turn of the 20th century of palm trees growing along the coast of the Trucial States. An illustration of Dibba Fort shows how its watchtowers were built to protect orange groves in Fujairah. There are blueprints from the UAE National Library and Archives that show the inflated greenhouses in Saadiyat, as well as how evaporative cooling techniques were used to lower their temperatures. A map of the UAE shows the 155 sites that Aboualam and her team visited to document agricultural techniques. A second video shows how the 'kits-of-parts' can be arranged in a program that tests their efficacy in various assemblies and contexts. Walls, floors, shades, roofs and material can be organised in different permutations and shapes, ranging from rectangles and squares to arches, each with a unique set of advantages. 'We took all of the knowledge and all of the kits and then fed them in the digital tool, which was developed by Holesum Studio,' Aboualam says. 'It's a digital tool that uses thermal modelling programs, but also architectural programs. 'You put the kits together in different combinations and then assign a location in the UAE. It draws from airport data to tell you the predicted temperatures, how much electricity and water you need to operate the greenhouse.' The final aspect of Pressure Cooker shows an enclosed storage and office space that has been walled using porous polycarbonate panels. The walls feature vertical channels that can be filled with running water, cooling the space within. A video of greenhouses from across the UAE is projected on to one of the walls, but the structure itself offers ideas into how greenhouses can be used in more domestic contexts. 'Hopefully we can take some of these kits and integrate them within a neighbourhood in the UAE,' Aboualam says. 'It can be in someone's backyard, in a school park or within a compound.' While Pressure Cooker positions these greenhouse kits in a UAE context, the design's potential is not limited to within the country's borders. The project prompts new ways of thinking about food sustainability in the face of rising global temperatures. This is one conversation that Aboualam hopes Pressure Cooker sparks during the biennale, which runs from May 10 to November 23. There is a poetic element in bringing a revamped greenhouse back to the country that is credited with its invention, and Aboualam hopes that the kit further democratises the technology and promote self-sufficiency. One clue to that aim lies in the title of the exhibition itself. 'In a pressure cooker, you essentially put ingredients together and it gives you another outcome. That's how the project was conceived,' Aboualam says. 'The goal is that it's approachable enough so people that don't have that much expertise can build these structures and grow their own food.'
Hi Dubai
31-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Hi Dubai
UAE Pavilion to Present 'Pressure Cooker' at Venice Biennale 2025
The United Arab Emirates Pavilion has announced its participation in the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia with an exhibition titled Pressure Cooker. Taking place from May 10 to November 23, 2025, in Venice, Italy, the exhibition will explore the intersection of architecture and food production in arid environments. Curated by Emirati architect and scholar Azza Aboualam, Pressure Cooker examines the UAE's evolving relationship with food security, proposing innovative, sustainable solutions at both individual and communal levels. The research-based exhibition delves into self-sufficiency and explores historical and modern food-growing infrastructures in the UAE, many of which remain hidden or overlooked. Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, UAE Minister of Culture, emphasized that the pavilion's participation underscores the nation's commitment to fostering innovation in tackling global challenges. He stated, 'This thought-provoking showcase exemplifies the UAE's leadership in advancing architectural solutions tailored for arid environments while promoting a global dialogue on sustainability and self-sufficiency in food.' Azza Aboualam highlighted the exhibition's focus on food security as a critical global issue, adding that the curatorial approach bridges the UAE's cultural and architectural identity with contemporary sustainability challenges. Laila Binbrek, Director of the National Pavilion UAE – La Biennale di Venezia, reiterated the commitment to sharing the country's untold stories on an international stage, fostering discourse on sustainable urbanism and resource management. The exhibition is supported by partnerships with institutions such as Zayed University and Sharjah Art Foundation, further strengthening the UAE's role in innovative research and sustainable design. News Source: Emirates News Agency
