The Biennale. A must

The Venice Biennale is known for great and controversial art and has been for more than 130 years. It is the oldest art fair in the world. The entire spectrum of the arts is on display: painting, sculpture, installations, performance, music, theater, dance, film and architecture.

Since 1980, the Architecture Biennale has been held every two years, alternating with the Art Biennale. The Architecture Biennale is by no means a trade fair for architects. In fact, a visit to the exhibition is a must for everyone. Because it is about the great challenges of our time and therefore about our future.

The title of this year’s Architecture Biennale:

Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective.

‘Intelligens’ sees itself as a laboratory for new alliances and experimental forms of building. The word Gens in the title refers to the Latin word for people. This year’s curator of the Architecture Biennale, architect and engineer Carlo Ratti, wanted to emphasize with his invitations that multidisciplinary teams create visionary architecture.

The powerhouse of ideas and visions presented here casts a spell over every visitor. The relentless confrontation with reality is certainly a stress test, but you are rewarded with the (still) unimaginable and a boundlessly imaginative approach to all conceivable possibilities. Here we are shown what must succeed and what has failed.

A large laboratory

In which every form of intelligence is welcome – this is what this year’s Architecture Biennale wants to emphasize.

It is the collective and creative meeting of architecture, art, technology and science. Architecture, film and photographic art, experiments, that makes the Architecture Biennale so exciting.

The exhibits, films, installations and lectures provide food for thought, show drastic projections and approaches to solutions. Positions from 750 participants from 66 countries can be found in the pavilions of the Biennale, the exhibition areas of the Arsenale and in the city itself.

Architecture is adaptation

The exhibition has been divided into three thematic strands under the motto ‘Share Knowledge’:

Natural Intelligence
The intelligence of nature and its application in architecture.

Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence and digital technologies in architectural design.

Collective Intelligence

The potential of collective knowledge and the participation of different actors in the architectural process.

Each country of the 66 national participations impresses with different conceptual ideas. This gives visitors a condensed insight into the visionary diversity around the globe in the shortest possible time. From pavilion to pavilion at the Biennale in the Giardini.

The German pavilion ‘Stress test’ © GloriousMe 2025

The German pavilion is entitled ‘Stress Test’ and sends its visitors through just such a test. In the first part of the pavilion, visitors experience the effects of extreme heat, which is becoming increasingly noticeable in many cities, first-hand and see them not only through thermal images. In the second part, visitors experience the vital cooling that nature, technology, materials etc. can provide.

The Serbian pavilion shows ethereal creations made of wool that are set in motion by energy from solar panels. It goes without saying that the wool used for this will be processed and reused after the Biennale.

In the Arsenale exhibition area there is no turning back, right at the beginning you are led through the worst-case scenario, a life without air conditioning in the heat-charged blackroom reflects our climate comfort and its global consequences. (‘Terms and Conditions’ an installation by the climate engineers from Transsolar, as well as Bilge Kobas, Daniel A. Barber, Sonia Seneviratne).

Then it’s off through a wide variety of scenarios, laboratories, archaic, biospheric and interactive positions. It is not only the scenarios and approaches that encourage dialog, but also a sensitive-looking robot that appeals to visitors (Am I A Strange Loop? by Takashi Ikegami and Luc Steels) with the question of whether a humanoid robot equipped with artificial intelligence can become aware of itself.

The transportation of the future in the lagoon city

You will be rewarded at the end of all the country presentations in the historic shipyard, where the fleets of the former Republic of Venice were built in the 14th century, with a work by one of the best architects in the world: Sir Normen Foster, who has just celebrated his 90th birthday.

His ‘Gateway’ installation manages to cool down at what feels like 40 degrees. The 37-metre-long floating structure is intended to explore how means of transport can be integrated into the historic surroundings of Venice in the future.

Gateway to Venice’s Waterway, Sir Norman Foster, Biennale 2025 © GloriousMe 2025

Circular economy. Canal Water Espresso

Right next to the transportation idea of the future, you can enjoy a Canal Water Espresso, an installation by the famous American architecture firm from New York Diller Scofidio + Renfro (winner of the Golden Lion 2025, designer of the High Line in New York City, among other things). The Arsenale’s lagoon water is distilled on site and the espresso is served in the pop-up bar.

‘Canal Water Espresso’ at the Arsenale © GloriousMe 2025

You don’t have to do without aesthetics and outstanding design at the Architecture Biennale. The appeal of a visit to the Venice Biennale lies in its engagement with future issues that concern us all in a format that never disappoints. Heart and soul are nourished in equal measure and sensitivity for the important role of architecture for our planet is heightened.

Venice has always had to be creative and visionary

The city, built on stilts, defies climate change and rising sea levels. It is a special experience to enjoy the aesthetics and culture of life between the historical surroundings, the future visions of the Biennale and other renowned exhibition venues in the lagoon city. Everywhere there is construction, restoration and the preservation of beauty.

The Architecture Biennale can still be experienced until November 30, 2025. If you don’t have the opportunity to travel to Venice during this time, you can get an impression of the ten best pavilions on the website of the renowned architecture magazine Dezeen.

Online tickets: www.labiennale.org/en/tickets

Guided tours can be booked at: www.booking.com/attractions

Moro Café, Palazzo Franchetti Venice © GloriousMe 2025

Last but not least. The green oases of the Serenissima

More Destress is not possible:

At the Girardini della Biennale, the restaurant and bar ‘In Paradiso ‘between the entrance to the Biennale and the ‘Bacino’, the harbor basin of San Marco, a breath of fresh air is guaranteed.

The beautiful Illy Caffé in the reopened park ‘Giardini Reale di Venezia’ the Royal Gardens of Venice, very close to St. Mark’s Square.

The newly opened Moro Café in the wonderful garden of Palazzo Franchetti with a view of the Ponte dell’Accademia.

And again and again the Museum Café of the Peggy Guggenheim Collection – enjoyment surrounded by art.

The Vaparetto (line 2) takes you from St. Mark’s Square to the island of San Giorgio Maggiore to the San Giorgio Café. There you can linger with the best view of the lagoon.

View from the ‘In Paradiso’ terrace at the Biennale’s Girardini © GloriousMe 2025

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Cover picture: Installation ‘Vela Celeste – Reimagining Home’ Collective / Arsenale © GloriousMe 2025