At the end of each edition of the Architecture Biennale, far from the public eye, tons of exhibition materials are transported across Venice in handcarts and boats. Only a small portion of these materials is reused. The main obstacles are the limited storage space in Venice and the high logistical costs—recurring challenges for circular architecture. As a result, most of the waste ends up in landfills or nearby recycling centers. But this scenario is beginning to change. In response to growing environmental concerns, architects are developing strategies to make reuse more viable. These efforts go beyond architectural and construction decisions—they also involve logistics and international trade.
The Croatian Pavilion presents "Intelligence of Errors" at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia, an artistic and research-driven project that repositions spatial and policy-related errors as generative tools for design. Commissioned by the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia, the exhibition is curated by Ida Križaj Leko, a practicing architect and head of the interdisciplinary university specialist program Urban Studies at the University of Rijeka. In dialogue with the central Biennale theme,Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective., the pavilion investigates how recognizing and analyzing errors can contribute to the development of collective intelligence under non-ideal conditions.
At the 19th Venice Architecture Biennale, the Chinese Pavilion presents Coexist, an exhibition curated by Ma Yansong, founder of MAD Architects. The pavilion assembles ten interdisciplinary teams, spanning architects, scholars, students, scientists, and even social media participants, to collectively investigate the potential of architecture to reconcile contradictions between tradition and futurity, artificial and nature, technology and emotion. Rather than presenting a singular vision, Coexist aims to open space for responses to the diverse realities shaping contemporary architecture. While on site in Venice, ArchDaily's editors had the opportunity to discuss the ideas that shaped the Chinese Pavilion with the curator.
At the 19th International Architecture Exhibition, La Biennale di Venezia, the Dicastery for Culture and Education presents "Opera Aperta", a project that positions architecture as a practice of collective care and responsibility. Curated by Marina Otero Verzier and Giovanna Zabotti, Opera Aperta is set within the Santa Maria Ausiliatrice Complex in Venice's Castello district. Designed by Tatiana Bilbao ESTUDIO and MAIO Architects, the project transforms the 500-square-meter site into a space for collaborative restoration and public engagement. Conceived as a work in progress rather than a finished installation, Opera Aperta functions as a platform for ongoing exchange, participation, and engagement rooted in the local context. This open and process-oriented approach was recognized during the opening events, where the Holy See Pavilion received the Golden Lion's Special Mention for National Participation.
How do pavilions emerge in architecture? What role do they play in urban spaces? Beyond the multiple interpretations that exist around the world, the pavilion, as an architectural principle and typology, tends toward extroversion, often associated with a centrifugal nature and visual openness toward the horizon, which is linked to its origins as a tent offering shelter from the elements. Pavilions are usually identified as isolated and independent structures that can promote lateral openings in the urban space, panoramic or introspective views, technological reflections, and material experiments that are recognizable from the outside or once inside.
The 2025 edition of the VeniceArchitecture Biennale is hosting a total of 65 National Pavilions. Among them, four countries, Azerbaijan, Oman, Qatar, and Togo, will be participating for the first time. The exhibition will unfold across three main locations: 26 pavilions at the Giardini, 22 at the Arsenale, and 15 spread throughout Venice's city center. The exhibition will bring together over 750 participants, forming interdisciplinary and multi-generational teams, and is anticipated to be the largest in the Biennale's history.
The Azerbaijan national pavilion, participating in the Venice Architecture Biennale for the first time, presents Equilibrium. Patterns of Azerbaijan. Curated by Nigar Gardashkhanova, the exhibition aligns with the overarching theme of this year's Biennale Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective. Focusing on innovative design responses to the climate crisis, the pavilion emphasizes the principles of Regenerate. Innovate. Preserve. Featuring projects commissioned by Rashad Aslanov, the exhibition showcases contributions from the Azerbaijan Development Company (ADEC), Simmetrico Architettura, and Adalat Mammadov. Organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, with support from the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Italy, the exhibition will run from May 10 to November 23, 2025, at Castello 2127/A, near the Arsenale.
Built on a cluster of 118 small islands in the shallow Venetian Lagoon, the city of Venice, Italy, has captivated the imagination of architects and tourists alike. The area has been inhabited since ancient times, becoming a major financial and maritime power during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, as proven through the rich architecture that characterizes the city to this day. With influences from the Byzantine, Gothic, and Renaissance styles, the city represents a palimpsest of architectural narratives, overlapping and influencing each other. In recent years, Venice has become a major attraction for architects drawn to the La Biennale di Venezia, the most important Architectural Exhibition featuring national pavilions, exhibitions, and events to explore new concepts and architectural innovations.
Beyond the Biennale, Venice itself is an open-air museum for architecture lovers. While the city is best known for its historical buildings, Modernist and contemporary interventions add a new layer of interest, with many contemporary architects working with the historical fabric, like OMA's intervention and rehabilitation of Fondaco dei Tedeschi, or David Chipperfield's renovation of Procuratie Vecchie, one of the buildings that define Piazza San Marco. In addition to what the city has to offer, the site of the Venice Biennale is also marked by interventions by famous architects such as Carlo Scarpa, Sverre Fehn, and Alvar Aalto, made permanent due to their outstanding qualities.
As a result of the ideas competition organized by the governments of Sweden, Finland, and Norway in 1958, Sverre Fehn's Nordic Pavilion won first prize, becoming one of the most significant works of his career and one of the most outstanding Scandinavian architectural achievements during the mid-20th century. Designed to create a space at the Venice Biennale for the biennial exhibitions of these countries, Fehn's proposal addressed several key architectural challenges—ranging from its integration with the site and incorporation of pre-existing elements to the handling of physical boundaries and uniform natural lighting. His design explored the interaction between architecture and trees, the flexibility in the exhibition space, the filtering of light, the connection between interior and exterior, the concept of movement through space, and the display of artworks.
The Winter Stations annual design competition celebrates its 11th edition in 2025. The competition challenges international artists and designers to reimagine lifeguard stations as captivating, interactive art installations. Designed to harmonize with the environment at Woodbine Beach in Toronto, Canada, these installations encourage immersive engagement with art in a public space, offering a transformative experience. Following its 10th anniversary in 2024, Winter Stations introduced an additional challenge, inviting participants to consider the future of the stations and their evolving relationship with the public and the environment. The theme for the 2025 edition, Dawn, calls on designers to explore how the stations can adapt, grow, and transform in the coming years.
The Australian Institute of Architects has announced the Creative Directors for the Australia Pavilion at the upcoming 19th International Architecture Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia in 2025. Selected to lead this project, Dr. Michael Mossman, Emily McDaniel, and Jack Gillmer will present "HOME", a pavilion dedicated to Australia's natural environment and Indigenous knowledge systems.
Iceland presents the Lavaforming at its National Pavilion for the 19th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia. Led by architect Arnhildur Pálmadóttir, founder of s.ap architects, the pavilion is commissioned by Halla Helgadóttir, Iceland Design and Architecture. Lavaforming envisions a provocative and speculative future in which the elemental force of lava is no longer seen solely as a natural hazard but instead embraced as a generative, architectural medium. By harnessing and directing controlled lava flows, the project explores the potential of molten rock to shape urban environments, transforming destruction into construction. Through a series of physical experiments and research-driven installations, Lavaforming demonstrates how this often-feared geological phenomenon could become a renewable and expressive material in the creation of future cities.
In celebration of Urban October, a month dedicated to recognizing the significance of innovative urban spaces, this curated selection presents 8 conceptual projects that demonstrate the transformative potential of public spaces. These projects, submitted by the ArchDaily community, showcase the myriad ways public spaces can enhance cultural identity, community interaction, and environmental quality. Conceptual projects and competition entries serve as a platform for architectural experimentation, challenging the norms and sparking discussions about the future of urban landscapes. From rural settings to layered historical squares or small-scale urban interventions, the designs engage with their contexts, aiming to improve the experience of residents and visitors, highlight the histories of the space, and ensure accessibility for all.
Each month, ArchDaily's editors select a collection of conceptual projects centered around a theme or program, submitted to ArchDaily. These projects are developed by small and large-scale architecture offices from around the world and submitted openly to the ArchDaily platform, thus forming a worldwide community of practitioners sharing their work, be it purely conceptual, a competition entry, or an early-stage design phase. Submissions are open to everybody. If you wish to contribute, send in your work by following the instructions here.
Azerbaijan Pavilion. Image Courtesy of Bellprat Partner
The Republic of Azerbaijan has just revealed its design for it's pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Kansai. Shining a spotlight on the country's culture, history, and forward-thinking approaches, the pavilion aims to promote connection and sustainability. Designed by Bellprat Partner in collaboration with Eleven, the pavilion will offer visitors a journey through Azerbaijan's rich traditions while emphasizing its modern goals for sustainability and international cooperation.
The Suzhou Museum of Contemporary Art, spanning 60,000 square meters, is envisioned as a village of 12 pavilions, presenting a contemporary take on the city's historic urbanism, architecture, and landscape. Designed by Bjarke Ingels Group - BIG, ARTS Group, and Front Inc., the project is part of Suzhou's development around Jinji Lake. It reimagines the classical garden 'lang,' or corridor, framing gardens with outdoor art installations. The pavilions' layout draws inspiration from Suzhou’s garden heritage, guiding visitors through an artistic, natural, and aquatic journey. The museum, which recently celebrated its topping out, is scheduled for completion in 2025.
