What was the theme of the 17th Venice Architecture Biennale in 2021?

The theme of the 17th Venice Architecture Biennale 2021 was "How Will We Live Together?", curated by Hashim Sarkis. The exhibition explored issues such as the impact of climate change, the role of public space in urban transformation, new construction techniques and the evolution of collective housing.

How many countries and participants took part in the 2021 Architecture Biennale?

The 2021 Architecture Biennale brought together 112 participants from 46 countries, organised into five thematic areas. The exhibition took place at the Giardini, the Arsenale and Forte Marghera in Venice, and remained open to the public until 21 November 2021.

What are the "Meetings on Architecture" at the Venice Biennale?

"Meetings on Architecture" are talks and encounters with international architects and scholars held as part of the Venice Architecture Biennale. These events explore the exhibition's themes through direct dialogue between professionals, fostering the exchange of ideas and visions for the future of architecture and urban spaces.

VENICE – ARCHITECTURE BIENNIAL 2021

The 17th International Architecture Exhibition of the Venice Biennale, entitled “How will we live together?”, was open to the public from 22 May to 21 November 2021 at the Giardini, the Arsenale and Forte Marghera. Hashim Sarkis curated the exhibition for the Venice Biennale and brought together the work of 112 participants from 46 countries.

Sarkis had asked architects to imagine spaces in which we can live together, at a time of political divisions and growing economic inequalities.

How the exhibition was organised

The curator divided the exhibition into five thematic areas, which he called scales. Three scales were at the Arsenale (Among Diverse Beings, As New Households and As Emerging Communities) and two in the Central Pavilion at the Giardini (Across Borders and As One Planet).

Alongside the international exhibition there were 60 national participations, including three countries taking part for the first time (Grenada, Iraq and Uzbekistan), and 17 collateral events promoted by non-profit bodies and institutions.

The Golden Lions of the 2021 Biennale

The Golden Lion for the best national participation went to the United Arab Emirates for “Wetland”, which the Biennale awarded as a construction model able to link craftsmanship and advanced technologies. The Berlin collective raumlaborberlin won the Golden Lion for the best participant with “Instances of Urban Practice”, two projects of civic regeneration based on participation and collective responsibility.

The Spanish architect Rafael Moneo received the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement, and the Biennale dedicated the Special Golden Lion in memoriam to Lina Bo Bardi, the Italian-born Brazilian architect and designer.

Meetings on Architecture

This edition also included a number of out-of-competition entries and the Meetings on Architecture programme, meetings with architects and scholars from all over the world. The speakers discussed the new challenges that climate change poses to architecture, the role of public space in recent urban unrest, new reconstruction techniques and the changing forms of collective building.

Craftsmanship and technology in the winning pavilion

The link between craftsmanship and advanced technologies that won in Venice is the same link on which AB Italia builds its production in Brianza. In its cabinetmaking, the craftsmen start from traditional techniques such as dovetail and mortise and tenon joints, and combine them with 5-axis CNC machining centres to cut geometries that could not be made by hand.