Saudi Arabia has wrapped up another powerful cultural milestone.
After six months of global attention, the Saudi National Pavilion Venice Architecture Biennale 2025 has officially concluded its architectural exhibition, “Um Slaim School: Towards a Coherent Architectural Concept,” marking the end of a season filled with research, dialogue, workshops, and international engagement.
Represented by Seen Architects founded by Sara Alissa and Nojoud Alsudairi, and curated by Beatrice Leanza with assistant curator Sara AlMutlaq, the pavilion introduced Biennale visitors to a fresh, thoughtful exploration of Najdi architecture rooted deeply in Saudi identity and contemporary design thinking.
Below is everything to know about the Kingdom’s standout presence at the Biennale this year.
Saudi National Pavilion Venice Architecture Biennale 2025: Inside the exhibition
The pavilion centered around the Um Salim Lab, a research initiative launched in Riyadh in 2021 to document, study, and celebrate Najdi architectural heritage and its evolving forms.
Visitors wandered through an interactive archive featuring:
- Traditional and modern building materials
- Archival and contemporary photography
- Architectural models
- Films and audio recordings
- Research narratives exploring spatial identity
The result? A living, breathing environment where past and future architectures engage in dialogue — a sandbox of ideas shaping Riyadh’s architectural future.
Saudi National Pavilion Venice Architecture Biennale 2025 dates and final panel
As the exhibition came to a close, the pavilion hosted a major panel discussion titled:
“Developing a Participatory Infrastructure: Relational Practices and Organizations.”
The session featured Seen Architects alongside regional cultural leaders, including architect Noura AlSayeh Holtrop and curator Shumon Basar, discussing how architecture can be shaped through community engagement, collective memory, and shared knowledge.
Saudi National Pavilion Venice Architecture Biennale 2025 book launch
One of the most significant moments of the closing program was the launch of the project’s second book:
Pedagogies of Connectivity: Learning and Participation in Spatial Practices
This bilingual (Arabic–English) publication documents:
- The first-year progress of the Um Salim School
- Cross-Gulf collaborative research
- Explorations of alternative learning models
- New architectural concepts challenging traditional systems
- Essays, interviews, and experimental curricula
- Contributions from more than 60 global architects, designers, and artists
It builds on the first volume, Um Salim School: Towards a Coherent Architectural Concept, which documented early research and spatial studies.
Saudi National Pavilion Venice Architecture Biennale 2025 workshops
Ahead of the Biennale, the Pavilion hosted a major February 2025 workshop in Riyadh with over 40 specialists.
They explored three main research themes:
1. Alternative Archiving
Participatory, community-informed archiving practices.
2. Material-Related Practices
Preservation, reuse, and sustainable approaches to building materials.
3. Cognitive Methodologies and Relations
Alternative learning models shaping new architectural futures.
These sessions helped form the direction and vision of the Um Salim School and the pavilion’s Biennale content.
Saudi National Pavilion Venice Architecture Biennale 2025: Voices from the team
Co-founders of Seen Architects, Sara Alissa and Nojoud Alsudairi, emphasized that the Um Salim Lab is rooted in the belief that architecture’s future emerges through multiple forms of knowledge—design, community engagement, research, and material exploration.
They look forward to developing future projects from the Um Salim neighborhood as part of this growing network of collaborators.
Curator Beatrice Leanza highlighted that Um Salim School represents a model for education, research, and collaboration within a shifting global environment, noting its potential to influence future generations of designers.
What’s next for Saudi Arabia at the Venice Biennale?
The Visual Arts Commission has announced the Kingdom’s participation for Venice Biennale 2026, selecting Saudi artist Dana Awartani to represent the country. The 2026 pavilion will be curated by Antonia Carver, Director of Art Jameel, with assistant curator Hafsa AlKhudairi.
For those inspired by Saudi Arabia’s rich architectural heritage, there are more cultural experiences to explore closer to home. The Craftsmen Cultural Event in Makkah celebrates local artisans, traditional crafts, and immersive workshops, offering a hands-on experience of the Kingdom’s creative legacy. Discover more about this vibrant festival and plan your visit here: Craftsmen Cultural Event Makkah Guide.
