By Janet Ekstract, NEW YORK – The Turkiye Pavilion at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia in 2025, promises to be one of the most thought-provoking pavilions of this year’s exhibition. Entitled Grounded, the Turkish pavilion places Turkish soil front and center as the root of environmental focus as a “dynamic, yet overlooked resource, vital for understanding civilizations, ecosystems and sustainable living.” The 2025 exhibition theme is Intelligens, Natural, Artificial Collective announced by Venice Biennale President Pietrangelo Buttafuoco and curator of the International Architecture Exhibitiion, Carlo Ratti. The exhibition visualizes architectural approaches that put nature and culture first, presenting inspiration for more sustainable ways of living. Grounded reflects the impact of human activities on the soil and explores Turkiye’s rich cultural heritage by showcasing archaeological sites and sustainable building practices. Turkiye’s pavilion depicts how soil interacts with construction by using local materials combined with contemporary innovations.
The reason the Turkish Pavilion is the most significant for this year’s architecture biennale is because soil is a main focus on the climate and environmental scene in the 21st century. What makes the Turkish pavilion especially unique is that visitors have an opportunity to participate in a sensory experience, to feel the soil’s texture: smell it, see it and to observe it as an ecosystem and an everchanging “archive of natural and human history.” This exhibition is timely because the diverse qualities of soil are revealed through a variety of medium: sensory experience, scientific research and artistic interpretations. Grounded makes a statement about soil – that it’s a living entity with intelligence and agency. This exhibition visualizes architectural methods that respect nature and culture in the pursuit of more beneficial ways of living. Turkiye’s Pavilion is coordinated by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (IKSV), curated by Ceren Erdem and Bilge Kalfa. It can be viewed from May 10 to November 23.
