The 19th Venice Architecture Biennale, titled "Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective.," is set to open on May 10, 2025, and will run through November 23, 2025. Curated by Italian architect and engineer Carlo Ratti, the exhibition aims to explore the multifaceted concept of intelligence in architecture, encompassing natural, artificial, and collective dimensions.

Ratti, known for his work at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Senseable City Lab and his firm Carlo Ratti Associati, emphasizes the need for architecture to adapt to the accelerating climate crisis. He advocates for a shift from mitigation to adaptation, urging architects to rethink design strategies for an altered world. Ratti's approach integrates disciplines such as art, engineering, biology, data science, and social sciences to address pressing global challenges.

The Biennale will be held across various venues in Venice, including the Giardini and the Arsenale, transforming the city into a dynamic architectural laboratory. The exhibition is organized into three thematic sections: Natural Intelligence, Artificial Intelligence, and Collective Intelligence. Each section will feature a diverse range of national pavilions and exhibitions, interpreting the central theme through unique cultural and architectural lenses.

One of the notable pavilions is the British Pavilion, titled "GBR: Geology of Britannic Repair." This exhibition is a collaboration between UK and Kenyan curators, including Cave_bureau architects Kabage Karanja and Stella Mutegi, writer Owen Hopkins, and academic Kathryn Yusoff. The exhibition critically examines Britain's colonial past and cultural ties through thought-provoking installations. Highlights include "Double Vision," a beaded exterior veil disrupting classical symmetry; "Earth Compass," connecting UK-Kenya history via star maps and carbon emission data; and "Rift Room," featuring a cast of a Kenyan cave and fusion of British and Kenyan bricks.

Another significant pavilion is the Rolex Pavilion, designed by architect Mariam Issoufou. The pavilion showcases sustainable architecture practices, aligning with the Biennale's overarching theme. Constructed using eco-friendly materials such as recycled timber and terrazzo flooring with reused glass aggregate, the pavilion reflects Venice’s cultural and ecological sensitivity. Inside, multimedia exhibits emphasize sustainable architecture, including a film chronicling the pavilion’s construction and another showcasing a collaboration between French architect Anne Lacaton and Lebanese-Armenian architect Arine Aprahamian on sustainable urban development in Beirut.

The Biennale's focus on intelligence in architecture, particularly in the context of climate change, underscores the urgent need for adaptive design solutions. By integrating diverse disciplines and cultural perspectives, the exhibition promotes a holistic approach to addressing global challenges. The British Pavilion's critical examination of colonial legacies through architecture highlights the role of design in confronting historical injustices and fostering dialogue. The Rolex Pavilion's emphasis on sustainability reflects a growing commitment within the architectural community to environmentally responsible practices.

Carlo Ratti, an Italian architect and engineer, is the director of the MIT Senseable City Lab and founder of Carlo Ratti Associati. His work focuses on the intersection of urban design and digital technologies, emphasizing data-driven and multidisciplinary innovations.

Cave_bureau is a Nairobi-based architectural and research firm founded by Kabage Karanja and Stella Mutegi. The firm explores the intersection of architecture and anthropology, often addressing themes related to colonialism and environmental sustainability.

Mariam Issoufou is an architect known for her commitment to sustainable design practices. Her work often incorporates eco-friendly materials and reflects cultural and ecological sensitivities.

Carlo Ratti on the exhibition's theme:

"The title Intelligens is linked to the modern term 'intelligence,' but it also evokes a wider set of associated meanings. In fact, the final syllable, 'gens' is Latin for 'people'. A new, fictional root emerges, suggesting a future of intelligence that is inclusive, multiple, and imaginative beyond today’s limiting focus on AI."

British Pavilion curators on their exhibition:

"GBR – Geology of Britannic Repair aims to re-centre architecture’s fundamental relationship to geology, shifting how we see its past and present and re-orienting its future otherwise."

The Venice Architecture Biennale has a history of addressing pressing global issues through the lens of architecture. Previous editions have explored themes such as "Reporting from the Front" (2016) and "Freespace" (2018), focusing on social responsibility and the generosity of space, respectively. The 2025 edition's emphasis on intelligence and adaptation in the face of climate change marks a continuation of the Biennale's engagement with contemporary challenges.

The 19th Venice Architecture Biennale serves as a platform for exploring adaptive architecture in the age of climate change, decolonizing design, sustainability in practice, interdisciplinary approaches to architecture, and Venice as a living laboratory. This comprehensive background provides a foundation for exploring the multifaceted themes and implications of the 19th Venice Architecture Biennale.