Terms and Conditions, the immersive exhibition at the first room of the Corderie dell’Arsenale
Photography: Marco Zorzanello; Courtesy of La Biennale di Venezia
“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
Terms and Conditions focuses on the omnipresence of air-conditioning in our modern life
Photography: Marco Zorzanello; Courtesy of La Biennale di Venezia
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.
Heatwave, Kingdom of Bahrain
Called Heatwave, the Bahrain pavilion received the Golden Lion for Best National Participation 2025
Photography: Andrea Avezzù; Courtesy of La Biennale di Venezia
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
Elephant Chapel by Boonsem Premthada Architecture is made from elephant dung
Photography: Marco Zorzanello; Courtesy of La Biennale di Venezia
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, Denmark
Build of Site, the Danish Pavilion at Venice Biennale of Architecture 2025
Photography: Marco Zorzanello; Courtesy of La Biennale di Venezia
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 Cafè
Canal Café, an installation by Diller Scofidio + Renfro
Photography: Marco Zorzanello; Courtesy of La Biennale di Venezia
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, Belgium
Building Biospheres, the Belgian pavilion at Venice Biennale of Architecture 2025
Photography: Luca Capuano; Courtesy of La Biennale di Venezia
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
