Venice is preparing to host the 19th International Architecture Exhibition, titled Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective, curated by Carlo Ratti, which will be held from May 10 to November 23, 2025. This edition aims to be a dynamic laboratory that brings together experts from various disciplines to rethink the built environment in response to the climate crisis. The exhibition will not be limited to the traditional spaces of the Giardini and the Arsenale, but will expand throughout Venice, transforming the city into a living laboratory.
A paradigm shift: from mitigation to adaptation
The exhibition emphasizes the need for a radical shift in the approach to architecture. It is no longer sufficient to mitigate the impact on the climate, but it is necessary to adapt to a world that has already profoundly changed. Architecture must become more flexible and dynamic, capable of responding to the challenges posed by an increasingly inclement climate. The 2025 edition will explore different forms of intelligence – natural, artificial and collective – inviting collaboration between different disciplines, from the hard sciences to the arts. The title “Intelligens” recalls the Latin word “gens” (“people”), emphasizing the importance of experimenting beyond the limits of artificial intelligence and digital technologies.
Key highlights of the exhibition:
- Inclusivity: the exhibition features over 750 participants, including architects, engineers, mathematicians, climate scientists, philosophers, artists, chefs and programmers2.
- Collaborative Authorship: the figure of the architect as the sole creator is challenged, proposing a more inclusive model of authorship, inspired by scientific research, in which all voices that guide design must be recognized and credited.
- Open Selection: the selection process for participants was open and bottom-up, through a “Space for Ideas” call, which allowed the discovery of new voices.
- Intergenerationality: the exhibition brings together experienced professionals and recent graduates, reflecting a commitment to different perspectives.
- International Collaborations: la Biennale has established connections with other global institutions, including the UN’s COP30, C40 and the Davos Baukultur Alliance.
The Corderie: three thematic worlds and one crucial question
In the Corderie, visitors will traverse three thematic worlds: Natural Intelligence, Artificial Intelligence, and Collective Intelligence. The exhibition will culminate in the “Out” section with a provocative question: can we look to space as a solution to the crises we face on Earth? The answer is negative: space exploration is not an escape route, but a means to improve life on Earth. Each section will be a modular and fractal space, linking projects on different scales, creating a network of dialogue. Further digital layers will amplify the conversations, adding a new dimension to the exhibition.
Venice: a living laboratory
With the Central Pavilion under renovation, Venice will become a living laboratory, with installations, prototypes and experiments scattered among the Giardini, the Arsenale and other neighborhoods. This approach transforms the city, one of the most vulnerable to climate change, into the backdrop of the exhibition.
The role of intelligence
The exhibition explores how intelligence, in all its forms, can guide architecture towards a sustainable future, where intelligence generates architectures guided by ethical, aesthetic and ecological principles. It emphasizes how architecture is the space in which intelligence can unfold, in a constant negotiation with the territory.
College Architettura and national participations
The College Architettura will support the main exhibition with a research and experimentation laboratory, with 8 selected projects from students and emerging professionals under 30 from around the world. There will be 66 national participations that will organize their exhibitions in the Pavilions at the Giardini, at the Arsenale and in the historic center. Among the new participations are the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Sultanate of Oman, Qatar and Togo. The Italian Pavilion, curated by Guendalina Salimei, will be dedicated to the theme “TERRÆ AQUÆ. Italy and the intelligence of the sea”.
Collateral events and special projects
The exhibition will be enriched by Collateral Events and Special Projects, including “Margherissima” at Forte Marghera and the Applied Arts Pavilion, in collaboration with the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
Sustainability and commitment to the future
La Biennale is committed to environmental sustainability, with the goal of obtaining carbon neutrality certification according to the ISO 14068 standard. A circular economy manifesto, launched by Carlo Ratti, strengthens the Biennale’s commitment to a sustainable future.
The Venice Architecture Biennale 2025 presents itself as an unmissable event for anyone interested in the future of the built environment and the role that architecture can play in addressing global challenges. Don’t miss it!
