The Saudi Pavilion is set to make a powerful statement at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2025 with an exciting new exhibition titled “Umm Al-Saleem School: Towards a Cohesive Architectural Thinking.” Starting May 10, 2025, the Saudi Pavilion will open its doors to visitors from around the world, offering a fresh perspective on architecture, education, and community.
A Collective Vision by Saudi Architects
Representing the Kingdom this year is architecture studio Scene Architects, led by Saudi architects Sarah Alissa and Njood Al-Sudairi. Under the curatorship of Beatrice Leanza and assistant curator Sarah Almutlaq, the Saudi Pavilion will explore Najdi architecture through research, fieldwork, and documentation based in the historic Umm Al-Saleem neighborhood of Riyadh.
Inside the Saudi Pavilion: An Interactive Archive
More than just an exhibition, the Saudi Pavilion is designed as an interactive archive. Visitors will explore a shared space filled with architectural materials, archive images, films, sounds, and scale models. The centerpiece is a sculptural table shaped like a map of central Riyadh—creating a meeting point for ideas and conversations.
Highlight Works and Collaborations
The Saudi Pavilion will showcase commissioned works by artists and collaborators, including:
- “Architectural Frequencies” by Mohammed Hamdan, blending sounds from construction sites with traditional building songs.
- “Tamweenat Aldeira” by Maha Malluh, reflecting the local identity of Umm Al-Saleem through grocery items.
- A photo series titled “The Present Moment” by photographer Laurian Ghinitoiu, capturing daily life in downtown Riyadh.
- Additional photography by Mansour Al-Sowaygh documenting modernist architecture in the city.
Public Program and Educational Events
A public program titled “Building/Dismantling” will run alongside the exhibition, featuring talks, workshops, screenings, and lab sessions. These events will explore architecture as a tool for community learning and problem-solving.
The sessions, organized with partners like Bricklab, Studio Ossidiana, and the Institute of Postnatural Studies, will take place at Palazzo Diedo between June and November. All events are free but require prior registration.
Looking Beyond the Biennale
The Saudi Pavilion also includes two published books that will carry the project’s ideas beyond the event. One will document the exhibition itself, while the other will capture the results of the public program. The goal is to keep the discussion going and inspire new architectural thinking in Saudi Arabia and beyond.
A Message from the Organizers
Dr. Sumayah Al-Solaiman, CEO of the Architecture and Design Commission, emphasized that the Saudi Pavilion reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to cultural dialogue and education. Meanwhile, the architects behind the project, Alissa and Al-Sudairi, see Umm Al-Saleem School as a new chapter for local architectural knowledge.Curator Beatrice Leanza added that the Saudi Pavilion is about reshaping how we think about the relationships between people, nature, and technology in the built environment.
The Saudi Pavilion at Venice Architecture Biennale 2025 is not just a display of buildings, it’s a statement about learning, sharing, and rethinking architecture in a changing world.
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