Venice Architecture Biennale 2025: Top 5 National Pavilions
4 min read
We explored the Biennale grounds and present our top 5 national pavilions. A visit is worthwhile!
Poland: Lares and Penates: On Building a Sense of Security in Architecture
The Polish pavilion presents "Lares and Penates: On Building a Sense of Security in Architecture," an exhibition about the need for protection in built spaces.
Curated by architect Maciej Siuda, artists Krzysztof Maniak and Katarzyna Przezwańska, and historian Aleksandra Kędziorek, the contribution combines centuries-old rituals with modern safety standards. Fire extinguishers, surveillance cameras, and emergency exits meet horseshoes and incense—symbols that, in various ways, enhance the feeling of security.
Netherlands: SIDELINED: A Space to Rethink Togetherness
The Dutch pavilion's exhibition "SIDELINED: A Space to Rethink Togetherness" invites a reimagining of architecture as a social playing field.
Curated by Amanda Pinatih and developed with social designer Gabriel Fontana, the project transforms a classic sports bar in the Rietveld Pavilion into a space for encounter, empathy, and community. Instead of competition, "SIDELINED" focuses on new forms of coexistence.
Together with an interdisciplinary team, including designer Koos Breen and artist Jeannette Slütter, the exhibition questions how spaces can either reinforce or counteract exclusion.
Japan: IN-BETWEEN – A Future with Generative AI
Under the title "IN-BETWEEN – A Future with Generative AI," the Japanese pavilion explores the interplay between human imagination and artificial intelligence.
Curated by architect Jun Aoki, the exhibition incorporates the Japanese concept of "ma"—a subtle space of pause, tension, and potential—and applies it to the architecture of the future.
The pavilion itself becomes an experimental field: using generative AI, the existing structure has been transformed into a living prototype where the boundaries between human design and machine computation blur. The exhibition, developed by an interdisciplinary team including Asako Fujikura, Takahiro Ohmura, and SUNAKI, poses the question of how AI can not only accelerate processes but also open up new architectural perspectives as a creative partner.
Uruguay: 53,86 % – Uruguay, Land of Water
Uruguay's pavilion highlights the country's special relationship with water: with a maritime area larger than its landmass, water has always shaped life and construction in Uruguay.
The exhibition, curated by Katia, Ken, and Luis Sei Fong, presents water not only as a vital resource but also as a cultural foundation of Uruguayan identity. In the so-called "Hydrocene"—an epoch where human interaction with water is crucial for the planet's future—the pavilion offers architectural responses: from sustainable infrastructure and water-sensitive urban planning to innovative concepts in resource management.
An immersive installation with sound, projections, and floating water droplets vividly conveys the power and presence of water.
Germany: STRESSTEST: Adapting to Extreme Heat
The German pavilion at the 2025 Architecture Biennale addresses the increasing overheating of urban and natural habitats due to climate change with "STRESSTEST: Adapting to Extreme Heat."
The curatorial team—comprising Elisabeth Endres, Gabriele G. Kiefer, Daniele Santucci, and Nicola Borgmann—examines how rising temperatures stress humans, animals, plants, and infrastructures. The exhibition is divided into two areas: in the STRESS rooms, visitors experience oppressive heat firsthand, raising awareness of the negative impacts of high temperatures.
The DESTRESS rooms, on the other hand, offer relief and present solutions for climate-resilient architecture, such as heat-resistant materials, shaded urban spaces, and nature-integrated construction methods. The exhibition views architecture not just as a reaction but as an active force in addressing the climate crisis.
Our top 5 pavilions offer inspiring perspectives and invite reflection on the future of building.
