Latest news with #BiennaleArchitettura2025
The Star
14-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABILITY
Purposeful and visually striking, well-designed buildings have the capacity to create emotional connections between people and communities. Rolex, partnering some of the world's most talented artists and leading cultural institutions for more than half a century, champions architectural achievement at the highest level. Architecture responds to our human and environmental challenges, and profoundly influences our experience of public and private spaces. Akin to creating timeless watches, architectural masterpieces require meticulous attention to detail, from planning to execution, ensuring structural integrity and aesthetic harmony. Rolex Pavilion, 19th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia. Partnership with the Biennale Architettura Since 2014, Rolex has served as Exclusive Partner and Official Timepiece of the Biennale Architettura, the world's leading forum for architectural ideas and debate. The Biennale Architettura 2025 exhibition, held in Venice, Italy, was launched on May 10, 2025 and runs until Nov 23, 2025. The exhibition titled Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective is curated by acclaimed Italian architect and engineer Carlo Ratti. Ratti has asked for ideas on how the built environment can be adapted sustainably in the face of a warming world, with some 60 countries mounting a national pavilion in the exhibition, each of which chooses its own curator and exhibitors. Anne Lacaton (left) and Arine Aprahamian, Architects. Made to last Replacing the previous structure built in 2018, the Rolex Pavilion has been reimagined along principles of sustainability, using local craftspeople, traditional building methods and recycled materials. Talented international architect Mariam Issoufou was invited by Rolex to design the pavilion to reflect the brand's identity and its philosophy of sustainability that stems from creating watches that are made to last. Issoufou, an academic and architectural leader who puts intersectional sustainability at the heart of all projects, runs a practice that extends from Niamey to Zurich and New York. Mariam Issoufou, Architect. She founded Mariam Issoufou Architects in 2014, with one of her completed projects named the Hikma Community Complex, a library and mosque complex in Niger, which won two global LafargeHolcim Awards for sustainable architecture. In 2020, she was named as one of 15 Creative Women Of Our Time by The New York Times. The ecological vulnerability of Venice, as well as Rolex's commitment to craft, was her inspiration for the pavilion. Her approach to sustainability is one that extends beyond environmental factors, ensuring that the pavilion promotes the social fabric, cultural history and economic conditions of crafters in Italy, and more specifically in Venice itself. The pavilion features a wooden facade, crafted locally from recycled wood beams and fashioned to evoke the fluted bezel of many of Rolex's iconic watches. Inside, the translucent coloured ceiling – made by Murano glassmakers – produces a range of shades and hues that morph throughout the day. The terrazzo flooring is made of an aggregate that includes recycled 'Cottisso' crushed glass. Variety of displays Alongside models showing the evolution of its design, a film about the construction of the pavilion will be on display. Images of work carried out by Italian craftspeople who live in or near Venice, and who supplied artisanal materials, will also be included. Reclaiming space in Beirut, an exhibition by French architect Anne Lacaton, espouses building renewal over demolition. Named a Laureate of the 2021 Pritzker Architecture Prize along with her partner Jean-Philippe Vassal, Lacaton is recognised internationally for designs that maximise the discipline's human and environmental potential and make sustainable use of what already exists. In 2025, she received the Jane Drew Prize for Architecture awarded for raising the profile of women in architecture. Rolex Boutique, Milan. Through Rolex, in 2023 and 2024, she mentored young Lebanese-Armenian architect Arine Aprahamian. In a documentary Aprahamian directed, Bourj Hammoud: The Value Of The Existing , she presents her two-year research project under the guidance of Lacaton. The project explores how small and strategic interventions can improve daily life in Bourj Hammoud, a dense neighbourhood of Beirut where she grew up. The architect, designer and researcher champions an innovative, affordable and sustainable vision of the future through architecture, drawing inspiration from science fiction and the qualities of existing sites. She founded architecture and design studio Muller Aprahamian with partner Adrian Muller in 2018, working on cutting-edge buildings and proposals, as well as on forward-thinking projects with notable designers, artists and institutions. They recently launched Terraforma, an in-house R&D project working with local industry to explore the traditional, ancient building material of clay and produce innovative, domestic alternatives for architectural materials. Noteworthy enhancements Rolex's tradition of exquisite craftsmanship is revealed in the refurbishment of two boutiques, through samples of materials and two films displayed in the pavilion. In Milan, an extensive restoration of a Rolex boutique in the world-renowned Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, offers a new language for retail space design. This is based on the enhancement for traditional Italian craftsmanship and a selection of refined materials and custom furniture. ACPV Architects Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel's design was inspired by the original architectural details of the gallery, reviving its Milanese atmosphere in a contemporary key, while preserving the historic value of the location. Rolex Boutique,Tokyo. The boutique extends across three floors, and the restoration concept was designed to create a seamless continuity between the Galleria and the retail space, integrating patterns, geometry and Venetian terrazzo flooring to maintain a strong connection with its surroundings. In Tokyo, the new Rolex flagship store features a facade that shimmers with a unique double bezel pattern thanks to metal mesh produced in Kyoto and embedded in the glass. In a kinetic effect, the pattern changes depending on the viewer's angle. Occupying four floors of the Rolex Tower, the facade and store were designed by Gwenael Nicolas of Tokyo-based design studio Curiosity, who worked with local artisans and artists. Delicate aesthetics are created by the subtle palette of carefully selected materials: travertine, Sen wood and frosted glass. Traditional Nishijin-ori fabric and deep green furniture with a lacquer-like texture provide a distinctly Japanese feel. Perpetual Arts Initiative Rolex celebrates achievement, recognising how the journey is marked by milestones, culminating in moments of success – defined by a path followed, not just an award. Through the Rolex Perpetual Arts Initiative, a broad portfolio of arts that extends through architecture, cinema, dance, literature, music, theatre and visual arts, the brand confirms its long-term commitment to global culture. In all these endeavours, Rolex supports excellence in the arts and the passing of knowledge to future generations, who in turn pass on the world's cultural legacy.
Daily Tribune
02-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Bahrain Crown Prince Congratulates BACA Team on Global Architecture Win at Biennale Architettura 2025
SK His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, received His Excellency Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA), along with the team behind the Kingdom's acclaimed participation at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia 2025 (Biennale Architettura 2025), at Gudaibiya Palace. The meeting followed Bahrain's recognition at the prestigious event, where the national pavilion earned the award for Best National Participation, marking a milestone in the Kingdom's cultural and architectural representation on the global stage. During the meeting, His Royal Highness underscored the critical role of Bahrain's talented national workforce in achieving international excellence. 'Bahrain's achievements across sectors are built on the ambition and dedication of its people,' HRH stated, adding that their contributions continue to support the Kingdom's comprehensive development journey led by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister praised the team's creative and meaningful work at the Biennale, which showcased Bahrain's architectural identity and tackled global environmental issues with visionary insight. He emphasized the importance of integrating innovative approaches to reinforce Bahrain's leadership in international cultural arenas. 'This award is not only a win for Bahrain but also recognition of our proactive engagement in sustainable urban development and environmental discourse,' HRH noted. His Royal Highness expressed pride in the national pavilion's success and conveyed appreciation to everyone involved in its development, describing it as a testament to Bahrain's rich architectural legacy and its future-focused vision. HE Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed expressed his gratitude for the unwavering support from HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. He noted that the international recognition is a direct result of the continued guidance and patronage from His Majesty the King and the strategic directives issued by HRH to amplify Bahrain's cultural presence worldwide. Also in attendance at the meeting were His Excellency General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Minister of Interior, and His Excellency Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Minister of Finance and National Economy.
Ottawa Citizen
14-05-2025
- Science
- Ottawa Citizen
Materials, Data, Landscapes, Space, and Wellbeing: Politecnico di Milano research supporting 7 Projects at the Biennale Architettura 2025
Article content MILAN, May 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — At the 19th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia, taking place 10 May-23 November 2025, Politecnico di Milano will support seven projects addressing the challenges of contemporary architecture through an interdisciplinary lens. This year's event, curated by Carlo Ratti, is entitled 'Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective.' and invites reflection on the forms of intelligence emerging from the interplay between space, technology, and society. Article content Article content Article content In this context, the presence of the Politecnico di Milano is reflected in the installations that foster dialogue between architecture, science, and innovation, engaging with themes such as sustainability, sensory perception, wellbeing, and new materials. Applied research, a cross-disciplinary outlook, and an emphasis on social impact form the common thread linking these projects, designed to enrich the global discourse on the future of architecture. Article content Politecnico di Milano's Rector, Donatella Sciuto said: 'The presence of the Politecnico di Milano as a supporter of several projects participating in the Biennale Architettura 2025 is part of one of the most prestigious cultural events on the Italian and international scene. The Biennale di Venezia, with its long-standing heritage and unrivalled prestige, is a hub of creativity where artists, architects, thinkers, and innovators converge and work together. It reflects the social, cultural, and technological transformations of our time, and the university finds itself mirrored in this setting as a driver of change. The university is a place of knowledge, where intelligence is nurtured, developed, and evolves and where new areas of application and forms of expression are discovered. The theme chosen by Carlo Ratti is significant for us, as it is within this framework that architecture must imagine and bring to life new worlds.' Article content Article content Biennale Architettura 2025 curator and Politecnico di Milano professor Carlo Ratti said: 'The message of this Biennale is urgent – the built environment must adapt to a changing planet. Architecture is no longer a matter of form, but of survival. To address this challenge, it must evolve, drawing on all forms of natural, artificial, and collective intelligence at our disposal. This is why universities play such a crucial role in this year's Biennale, especially in a time when they are confronted by emerging forms of obscurantism. We are honoured to count Politecnico di Milano among our participants. I hope the Biennale can carry this message to Piazza Leonardo da Vinci and our current and future students. Architecture has the power to change the world, if we are brave enough to let it.' Article content The Politecnico di Milano supports the following projects participating in the Biennale Architettura 2025: Material Bank – Matters Make Sense is a project set up at the Corderie dell'Arsenale, presented by Ingrid Maria Paoletti and Stefano Capolongo (Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering, Politecnico di Milano), together with set designer Margherita Palli and Nobel Laureate Konstantin Novosëlov (National University of Singapore), awarded for his work on graphene. The project explores perception as a fundamental form of intelligence, linking innovative materials, sensory experience and the built environment. Inspired by the intertwined concepts of a labyrinth and a library, the installation, features interactive devices such as the Polimi_Sensing Core, which enables visitors to perceive their own heartbeat through reactive fabrics, prompting a reflection on the body as an environmental interface.
