Architecture and architectural pedagogy far supersede the physical act and product of building; at the same time, it is a reflection of identity, a response to pressing challenges, and a repository of alternative possibilities for a burgeoning future and an unequal past. In the Middle East, platforms like the Sharjah Architecture Triennial, the Istanbul Design Biennale, and the Amman Design Week have catalysed a rethinking of architecture’s role in addressing urban inequalities, climate adaptation and cultural memory, while beckoning Global South solidarity and decolonial discourse in an unprecedented manner. Additional platforms such as the Cairo International Biennale and Beirut Design Week have further enriched the discourse, focusing on local knowledge, heritage and sustainable urban practices unique to the region.

The Venice Architecture Biennale, with its legacy as a global architectural hub, provides an essential stage for Middle Eastern countries to interrogate and showcase their narratives, distinct in both style and substance from incumbent Western representations that are but the norm at the Biennale. Yet, the complexities of participation reveal a story of both presence and absence. While Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE present their narratives this year, countries like Yemen, Syria and Libya remain excluded, their voices and architectural polemic constrained by systemic barriers, from political instability to resource limitations. This imbalance serves as both a challenge and a reminder of the work still needed to fully amplify the Middle East’s architectural presence on a global stage, even while much of its contemporary counterpart remains marred by unfair labour practices, particularly for the richer nations part of the canon and pointedly towards South Asian immigrant workers.

This year’s theme, Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective., offers fertile ground for exploration, and the Middle Eastern pavilions and other projects in attendance at Venice rise to the occasion. From Qatar’s dialogue on hospitality and shared spaces to Saudi Arabia’s pedagogical approach to vernacular knowledge, the pavilions reflect a deep engagement with the imperatives of ecological stewardship, collective memory and speculative futures. These contributions align with broader narratives across the Global South. For example, in Latin America, developing resilient, low-cost housing in response to natural disasters in countries like Chile and Haiti showcases the importance of design that emphasises resource efficiency and community empowerment. These regional platforms, despite the specific context of an architecture Biennial in Venice, reflect an architectural paradigm that prioritises equity, sustainability and cultural reclamation.

Inspired by precedents like the Sharjah Triennial’s focus on post-oil imaginaries and Amman Design Week’s commitment to community-centred design, these contributions underscore the region’s ability to position architecture as both a witness and a catalyst for change. STIR thereby delves into the narratives emerging from Middle Eastern pavilions at the Biennale, exploring the stories, challenges and ideas shaping these contributions, attempting to uncover how architecture from this part of the world serves as a repository of resilience and re-imagination, offering alternative blueprints for a rapidly evolving world.

The Land Remembers – Lebanon Pavilion

Arsenale

The Lebanon Pavilion, titled The Land Remembers, foregrounds an urgent ecological and architectural discourse. Curated by the Collective for Architecture Lebanon (CAL), the pavilion presents a fictional entity, the ‘Ministry of Land Intelligens’, as an activist space dedicated to healing Lebanon’s devastated natural environment. This ministry, structured into four departments, tackles issues ranging from ecocide documentation to endemic species preservation and ecological restoration. The exhibit's architecture embodies the resilience of nature. Constructed from compacted soil bricks embedded with wheat seeds, the installation transforms over six months as the seeds sprout, symbolising regeneration. This rather poetic gesture anchors Lebanon's architectural narrative within its historical and agricultural legacy while advocating for an elevated architectural role in addressing ecological crises.

Visitors are invited not just to observe but to engage actively, with the pavilion functioning as a space of activism. A petition at the exhibit encourages support for the ministry’s ecological agenda, extending its impact beyond Venice. This pavilion encapsulates Lebanon's architectural response to environmental and cultural degradation, offering an urgent call for collective action.

Pressure Cooker – UAE Pavilion

Arsenale

The UAE Pavilion, titled Pressure Cooker, explores the intersection of architecture and food security, an issue deeply relevant to the region's arid climate. Curated by Emirati architect and scholar Azza Aboualam, the exhibit reimagines greenhouses for dry conditions, blending vernacular knowledge with contemporary innovations to address sustainability and self-sufficiency. Building on archival research and fieldwork, the pavilion showcases prototypes of adaptive greenhouse assemblies. These models integrate insights from traditional practices and advanced technologies, offering scalable solutions to mitigate challenges posed by climate change. The exhibit emphasises the UAE’s commitment to global dialogues on sustainable architecture, food systems and climate resilience.

The pavilion also features a robust program of publications and collaborations with academic institutions, fostering ongoing research and discourse. By situating the UAE's food security challenges within a global context, Pressure Cooker underscores the critical role architecture can play in fostering solutions to the urgent food scarcity issues in arid climates.

Bayti Beytak. My home is your home. La mia casa è la tua casa. – (State Of) Qatar Pavilion

Giardini and Palazzo Franchetti, San Marco

Qatar’s first national participation in the Giardini della Biennale is called Bayti Beytak, My home is your home. La mia casa è la tua casa. It explores hospitality and shared spaces in Middle Eastern and South Asian architecture. The pavilion features a major installation, Community Centre, by Pakistani architect Yasmeen Lari, and celebrates the region's rich architectural traditions. The exhibition, curated by Aurélien Lemonier and Sean Anderson, spotlights notable modern and contemporary architects, including works from Raj Rewal and Marina Tabassum. By bridging historical and contemporary narratives, the pavilion interrogates how architectural practices can embody hospitality and inclusivity in urban design. Through this exhibition, Qatar asserts its role as a leader in cultural diplomacy, using architecture to foster dialogue and offer new insights into hospitality and inclusivity in the MENASA region.

The Um Slaim School: An Architecture of Connection – Saudi Arabia Pavilion

Arsenale

Saudi Arabian pavilion, The Um Slaim School: An Architecture of Connection, investigates the architectural heritage of Najdi traditions in Riyadh while envisioning new pedagogical frameworks. Curated by Beatrice Leanza, the exhibit features interactive sessions and a living archive, fostering transnational dialogue on urban and ecological resilience. The pavilion draws from the work of Syn Architects and the Um Slaim Collective, emphasising participatory approaches to architectural education. Through experimental documentation and material exploration, it offers insights into sustainable urban development rooted in vernacular knowledge. By aligning with Saudi Arabia’s broader cultural initiatives, this pavilion exemplifies a commitment to merging heritage with innovation. Its interactive format underscores architecture's capacity to address pressing global challenges, from climate change to urban equity.

Grounded – Turkey Pavilion

Arsenale

The Turkey Pavilion’s exhibit, Grounded, centres soil as a critical yet often overlooked resource in architecture and sustainable living. Curated by Ceren Erdem and Bilge Kalfa, the pavilion employs sensory experiences, artistic documentation and scientific research to emphasise the soil's ecological and cultural significance.

With its focus on vernacular techniques and archaeological heritage, Grounded critiques the architectural detachment from natural systems. By rethinking soil as a dynamic element, the pavilion challenges visitors to reconsider their relationship with the environment and its role in shaping future architectures. Drawing from Türkiye’s architectural traditions and current advancements, this exhibit supports sustainable approaches rooted in ecological insight. It illustrates how soil plays a foundational role in fostering enduring and cohesive environments.

Heatwave – Bahrain Pavilion

Arsenale

Bahrain Pavilion, Heatwave, addresses the pressing challenge of rising temperatures with innovative passive cooling designs. Curated by Andrea Faraguna, the pavilion features a modular structure inspired by traditional Bahraini cooling methods, integrating geothermal wells and solar chimneys. The exhibit reimagines climate-responsive design, offering scalable solutions for urban environments impacted by extreme heat. It situates architecture as a mediator between environmental sustainability and social equity, particularly in labour-intensive outdoor settings. By merging traditional wisdom with advanced engineering, Heatwave demonstrates architecture’s role in addressing global climate challenges. Its focus on thermal comfort and modular adaptability seeks to offer tangible, actionable plans for sustainable urban design in the Gulf region and beyond.

Traces – (Sultanate Of) Oman Pavilion

Arsenale

Oman’s debut pavilion, Traces, delves into the traditional Sablah, a cornerstone of Omani social life, reimagining it as a blueprint for contemporary architecture. Curated by architect Majeda Alhinai, the pavilion emphasises modularity and sustainability, drawing on cultural heritage to create adaptable spaces. Featuring movable seating crafted from palm-woven materials and structure inspired by Omani pottery and sand, the pavilion embodies the values of hospitality, dialogue and community. Beyond the biennale, its design encourages reuse and transformation, illustrating how traditional forms can inspire modern, resilient communal spaces.

The Middle Eastern pavilions leave us with more than ideas; they offer real, urgent questions and provocations. How do we transform and build more shared spaces? How do we rebuild trust in our landscapes? These are not just regional challenges but global ones, making these pavilion contributions a compass for navigating the architecture of tomorrow.

The 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia is open to the public from May 10 to November 23, 2025. Follow STIR’s coverage of the Venice Architecture Biennale 2025 (Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective) as we traverse the most radical pavilions and projects at this year’s showcase in Venice.