From May 10 to November 23, 2025, the world’s attention turns once again to Venice for the Biennale di Venezia, one of the most prestigious cultural events in the photo venice. The 19th International Architecture Exhibition offers an immersive journey into the evolving relationships between nature, intelligence, and the built environment. Curated by Carlo Ratti, this year’s theme — “Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective.” — invites a global reflection on the power of design to address today’s most pressing challenges.
Spread across iconic Venetian venues — from the Arsenale to historic palazzos — the Biennale presents an unparalleled lineup of exhibitions, installations, and research-driven projects. This isn’t just a showcase of architecture; it’s a deep, interdisciplinary exploration of how art, technology, and sustainability can converge in transformative ways.
Let’s dive into the best of the Venice Biennale
foto Andrea Avezzu, courtesy La Biennale di Venezia
A New Intelligence: The Vision Behind the 2025 Architecture Biennale
This year’s Biennale is more than a curated display — it’s a manifesto. Carlo Ratti, known for his innovative approach at the intersection of architecture, digital technology, and the environment, leads a thought-provoking investigation into the forms of intelligence that shape our future.
Whether it’s natural ecosystems, artificial intelligence, or human collectivity, each exhibition challenges visitors to think differently about space, time, and our shared responsibilities as global citizens.
From large-scale installations to intimate, research-based presentations, this edition of the Biennale di Venezia offers something for everyone who appreciates art and is intrigued by architecture’s potential to rethink the way we live.
Water Parliaments: Catalonia’s Ecosocial Response to Crisis
One of the standout projects comes from Catalonia, with the exhibition “Water Parliaments: Projective Ecosocial Architectures.” Curated by Eva Franch, Mireia Luzárraga, and Alejandro Muiño and presented by the Institut Ramon Llull, this project tackles the water crisis from an architectural and civic perspective.
The exhibition unfolds in three parts: a growing database of hydrological case studies, a design lab generating visionary prototypes, and the final installation presented at the Biennale itself. This is not only a showcase but a living research project — an exhibition where activism meets design.
If you’re passionate about climate change, art as advocacy, and sustainable futures, this is one of the must-see exhibitions at the Biennale.
Eva Franch, Mireia Luzárraga
Alejandro Muiño
UNESCO’s Deep Surfaces: Rethinking Heritage Through Architecture
UNESCO’s contribution, titled “Deep Surfaces,” focuses on reimagining the visitor experience at World Heritage sites. It stems from an international competition that invited young architects to design new spatial solutions that honor history while enhancing accessibility and sustainability.
The selected entries emphasize themes like inclusive tourism, intergenerational dialogue, and the preservation of memory through design. This is where architecture and art serve a deeper purpose — connecting the past to the future in innovative, meaningful ways.
EUmies Awards and the Power of Emerging Talent
Future-forward thinking continues with “Intelligens. Talent. EUmies Awards. Young Talent 2025,” a project by the Mies van der Rohe Foundation and Creative Europe. The exhibition highlights outstanding graduation projects from architecture and urban planning students across Europe.
The show offers a glimpse into the minds of the next generation of designers — and it’s nothing short of inspiring. After the Venice exhibition, these works will embark on a traveling exhibition, making waves well beyond Italy.
For those seeking fresh ideas and emerging voices in architecture, this is a core highlight of the 2025 Biennale di Venezia.
Asia’s Voices: Taiwan, Macao, and Hong Kong Bring New Narratives
courtesy National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts
courtesy National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts
This year, three key Asian contributions add significant depth and diversity to the Biennale’s global conversation.
At Palazzo delle Prigioni, Taiwan presents “NON-Belief: Intelligens of Precarity.” Organized by the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, the exhibition critiques the island’s complex relationship with technology and global geopolitics — from TSMC’s microchips to high-speed infrastructure. Inspired by Robert Smithson’s “non-sites,” the exhibition imagines how architecture reflects resilience in precarious conditions.
Meanwhile, Macao introduces “Parallel Worlds”, offering insights into the region’s evolving cultural identity, while Hong Kong delivers “Projecting Future Heritage: A Hong Kong Archive” — an exploration of urban memory and future legacy, presented at the Arsenale.
These exhibitions blend Eastern philosophies with contemporary design, enriching the artistic landscape of the Biennale.
The AlMusalla Prize: Where Architecture Meets Spirituality
The AlMusalla Prize 2025, developed in collaboration with the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, proposes a sacred challenge: design a contemporary musalla — a space for prayer and reflection — to be built in Saudi Arabia during the Islamic Arts Biennale.
The winning project, exhibited at the Biennale, will not only be realized but will also receive a financial prize. It’s a rare example of how architecture and spirituality can engage in a modern context, offering a serene counterpoint to the urban and ecological themes present elsewhere in the Biennale.
Islamic Arts Biennale 2025 Photo: Marco Cappelletti, courtesy of the
Diriyah Biennale Foundation)
Palazzo Diedo and the Future of Sustainable Art + Design
One of the most striking installations this year is hosted at Palazzo Diedo in Cannaregio. Titled “The Next Earth: Computation, Crisis, Cosmology,“ the show delves into how AI, algorithms, and environmental data are reshaping architecture.
Equally compelling is The SKYWALK, an exhibition by Platform Earth at the Giardini della Marinaressa. This interdisciplinary project bridges science, environmental studies, and art to advocate for regenerative material use.
Also on display is “unEarthed / Second Nature / PolliNATION”, a collaboration with Virginia Tech Honors College, which showcases ecological storytelling through sensory design. Together, these events highlight the power of sustainable architecture as both an artistic and environmental force.
Jean Nouvel and the Fondation Cartier: Framing Venice Through Architecture
One of the most anticipated events is hosted by the Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain in collaboration with the renowned architect Jean Nouvel. From May 10 to September 14, 2025, visitors to the Fondazione Giorgio Cini will experience a spatial dialogue between architecture and Venice’s unique landscape.
Nouvel’s design uses the museum’s windows to frame views of San Giorgio Maggiore, reflecting the same approach he’s using for the Fondation Cartier’s new Parisian building. It’s a poetic gesture that turns architecture into a lens through which to observe art, history, and nature — a true highlight of the Biennale di Venezia.
The Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain
Why the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale Is Unmissable
In a world marked by climate uncertainty, digital transformation, and social upheaval, the Biennale di Venezia 2025 offers a space to pause, reflect, and imagine new futures. Each exhibition is a conversation starter, each installation a window into another world. Whether you’re an architect, artist, student, or curious traveler, this Biennale has something that will challenge and inspire you.
With a strong emphasis on art, innovation, sustainability, and global dialogue, this year’s edition is more relevant than ever. So, pack your bags and bring your curiosity — Venice awaits.