From May 10 to November 23, 2025 , Venice has opened its doors to the Architecture Biennale , one of the most important international events taking place on the island every two years. Sixty-six nations are participating, showcasing their exhibitions in pavilions spread across the Giardini, the Arsenale, and Venice's historic city center.
The 19th International Architecture Exhibition, titled "Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective," aims to reflect on the complexity of the world and the need for a more integrated and collaborative approach to architecture and design . Carlo Ratti, the exhibition's curator, states that its goal is to invite "different types of intelligence to work together to rethink the built environment. The exhibition's title itself, intelligens, contains the Latin word gens ('people') and encourages us to experiment beyond the confines of a focus limited to artificial intelligence and digital technologies."
As visitors explore the current exhibition, they'll find fascinating interpretations of the "Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective" theme across the 66 participating pavilions.
For instance, the Italian Pavilion at the Arsenale's Tese delle Vergini beautifully highlights the rich history of Italian design and its intersection with new technologies. Here, you might see how traditional craftsmanship is being enhanced by AI-driven fabrication, or how ancient urban planning principles are informing modern sustainable cities.
Meanwhile, the Nordic Pavilion —shared by Sweden, Norway, and Finland in the Giardini—often emphasizes the integration of natural materials and biophilic design with smart building technologies. Their displays typically illustrate how designs leverage both the inherent "natural intelligence" found in ecosystems and artificial intelligence for optimal energy efficiency.
Over at the German Pavilion in the Giardini, the focus might shift to the ethical considerations of AI in urban development, presenting innovative solutions for smart cities that prioritize human well-being and social equity, perhaps through interactive exhibits that demonstrate AI's role in optimizing public spaces.
The Japanese Pavilion (also in the Giardini) consistently offers a unique perspective on the relationship between technology, nature, and the human experience. Here, visitors might discover projects that seamlessly blend robotics with traditional construction methods or explore how collective intelligence can foster more resilient communities in the face of environmental challenges.
These are just a few examples of how the "Intelligens" theme is being interpreted, demonstrating the diverse and innovative approaches that visitors can currently admire from the participating nations.