The Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA) has issued an open call for design proposals for the kingdom’s national pavilion at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition at La Biennale di Venezia (Venice Biennale). 

The prestigious event, which will run from May 10 to November 23, 2025, serves as a leading global platform for showcasing architectural innovation and addressing the pressing challenges facing the world today.

Themed ‘Heat Wave’, the Bahrain Pavilion will explore the impact of climate change on the urban environment, with a focus on sustainable architectural solutions. 

BACA invites architects, designers, and creative professionals from around the world to submit innovative concepts that seamlessly blend urban development, sustainability, and the preservation of local environments. 

This call aligns with the Biennale’s overarching theme, ‘Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective.’ which emphasises the importance of harnessing natural, artificial, and collective intelligence to address climate change and propose innovative architectural solutions for the social, humanitarian and technological challenges of our time.

BACA President H.E. Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa emphasised the significance of Bahrain’s participation in the Biennale. 

“The International Architecture Exhibition at La Biennale di Venezia is a global platform where we proudly showcase Bahrain’s rich architectural and urban heritage, as well as our commitment to sustainability and innovation in the face of environmental challenges,” he said.  

“Our participation is a testament to our dedication to enriching the global architectural landscape with inspiring and practical solutions.”

The call for proposals aims to support the burgeoning architecture and design sector in the kingdom, empower local talent, and foster international cultural exchange. 

The Bahrain Pavilion seeks to assemble a multidisciplinary team of up to five members, including at least one Bahraini national or resident, who will collaborate to bring the pavilion’s vision to life.

Hosted by the Biennale Foundation, La Biennale di Venezia is an international cultural exhibition which has taken place in Venice, Italy, since 1895. The main exhibition alternates between art and architecture with other events, that are held annually, including theatre, music and dance.

The architecture section was officially established at La Biennale di Venezia in 1980 and held every two years. It couldn’t be staged in 2020 because of the pandemic, meaning that it was held in 2021 and, subsequently, in 2023.

The deadline for submitting proposals is August 15, 2024.

GO: Visit www.bahrainpavilion.bh for more information or to submit your proposal.