19th Venice Architectural Biennale - just a glimpse of what was on display

While the Canadian Pavilion was quite disappointing, there were several excellent national pavilions and some impressive displays throughout the grounds. Below are some of the hundreds of displays that were most worthwhile.

"The German Pavilion exposes visitors to the reality of the coming urban climate, both physically and psychologically. Split into Stress and De-Stress, the exhibit allows people to directly experience extreme heat, highlighting the need for action, while simultaneously offering impetus and solutions for resilient urban planning. The delicate, wind-stirred installation of a cluster of windsocks on the pavilion’s roof by artist Christoph Brech poetically illustrates the complex interplay of climatic phenomena."

The following displays were found in the excellent Spanish pavilion.

The following was one of the most impressive displays at the Biennale. But you need to take time to study it at home. https://calculatingempires.net/

I very much liked this pavilion since it highlighted something a professor taught me in 1967. If you make a mistake, don't try and hide it. Make a feature of it!

Since arriving in Venice I worried how they were going to manage sea level rise. Here's a short summary of what they are doing and a small display from the Biennale.

Venice manages sea level rise primarily through the MOSE project, a system of 78 mobile barriers at the lagoon's inlets that can be raised to block high tides. This is supplemented by other measures like reinforcing quaysides and improving infrastructure. However, while the barriers provide protection, they are considered a temporary solution as climate change and rising sea levels pose long-term threats. 

When I attended the 2012 World EXPO in Yeosu Korea, there was a display on how to purify polluted water. I came across a similar display in Venice, but it was more impressive!

Norman Foster is a very famous and successful British Architect who was asked to sponsor a display through his foundation. He partnered with Porsche. This is one of the things they came up with.

To learn more about the Venice Biennale, which unfortunately ends soon, you can go here: https://www.labiennale.org/en

The 19th Architectural Biennale in Venice - the Canadian Pavilion

This was my first Biennale. I was invited by Gary Hack, Dean Emiritus of  the University of Pennsylvania School of Planning and Design and a former professor at MIT who assisted in the curation of the event. Even though I arranged Media Accreditation, I didn't need it. Unlike World Expositions there were no line ups or difficulties getting in to see displays. 

Gary was both surprised and delighted to see his photo at the entry to the exhibition.

One of our first stops was the Canadian pavilion. To put it gently, we were both confused and quite dispappointed by the display which was a joint Canadian/Swiss initiative.  I have subsequently reviewed some online information and  this is what I found.

• Written by Reyyan Dogan
• Published on May 19, 2025

"The Canada Council for the Arts presents Picoplanktonics at the Canada Pavilion as part of the 19th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia, which will run until November 23, 2025. Developed by the Living Room Collective, the installation engages with ongoing global ecological challenges through a speculative, research-driven approach to design, featuring 3D-printed architectural structures embedded with living cyanobacteria capable of carbon sequestration. Developed through a four-year collaboration led by Andrea Shin Ling and a group of interdisciplinary contributors, the project investigates the potential of co-constructing built environments with living systems."

Below is the display that first greets you as you enter the Canadian Pavilion.

Picoplanktonics is a Living Experiment in Regenerative Architecture.

I couldn't quite understand what it was about so I reviewed the ArchDaily where I found the following:

The Living Room Collective is composed of architects, scientists, artists, and educators working at the intersection of architecture, biology, and digital fabrication technologies. Led by Canadian architect and biodesigner Andrea Shin Ling, the core team members include Nicholas Hoban, Vincent Hui, and Clayton Lee. The collective seeks to transition away from extractive models of production by developing design methods and processes grounded in natural systems. For the team, the Biennale Architettura 2025 serves as a platform to provoke national and international dialogue around questions central to the future of architecture: How does one fabricate a biological architecture? What are the conditions of stewardship? And what strategies might scale such approaches regionally and globally?

The workings of the system were on full review

"The structures featured in the pavilion were fabricated using a novel biofabrication platform developed at ETH Zürich. Capable of printing living materials at architectural scale, the system represents a significant advancement in sustainable building technologies. The result is the largest known architectural installation composed of living materials. Within the Canada Pavilion, the exhibition space has been adapted to accommodate the biological needs of the cyanobacteria, with careful calibration of light, humidity, and temperature to allow the organisms to thrive throughout the exhibition's duration."

You can learn more about Picoplanktonics here: https://picoplanktonics.com/

 

5 days in Venice for the 19th Architectural Biennale

I stayed at the Charming House Hotel. While the view from the window wasn't as magnificant as some views around the city, this was a good choice. More about the hotel later.

Magical is the word often used to describe Venice. There's nowhere else on earth just like it.

The architectural biennale was well publicized around the city.

Sadly, many of the rooms and suites in these former palaces are now dark much of the time. I'm told many young families with children have left the city for the 'mainland' since life is just too difficult.

 

10 Facebook posts from London

 

Images of London.

Highlights of my initial stay in London included visits to Harrods and Fortnum and Masons to look at the food and clothes, and the Battersea Power Station redevelopment. I also enjoyed kosher fish and chips at my cousin's home and other sights as illustrated below. 

For many decades the Battersea Power Station had fallen into disrepair. However en recent years, a major redevelopment has been underway with new retail, housing and office space. It is a truly vibrant neighbourhood with more than 60 restaurants

Inside the power station is a very elaborate multi-level retail development

the original building is now flanked by  a variety of new developments including this residential complex designed by Canada's Frank Gehry.

a view of the city skylline from Battersea

I thought the haddock was really good and quite different from the fsh and chips we get in Canada. But then this was fried in matzoh meal!

I really liked this sweater and tried it on. But when I looked at the price tag I decided to pass since it cost two and a half times as much as my parents' first house!

Yes, this sweater costs $33,275 CDN. But my wifes' friend said it's a very fine material.

The seafood at Harrods is of exceptional quality, but quite expensive.

This would nicely serve two people!

I thought these were dandy window displays

I would love to see more freehold (as opposed to condo) townhouses in Vancouver like these terraced flats.