The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Office of Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, has announced the open call for curatorial proposals for the Philippine representation at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia in 2025.
As the Philippines gears up for its fifth participation since 2016, the Venice Architecture Biennale serves as an influential stage for architects, curators, artists, urban planners and visionaries to collectively respond to contemporary challenges. Globally, urbanization is moving at a hectic pace with urban populations expected to double in 20 years. In the Philippines, the rapid urban expansion has ushered in a myriad of issues, from environmental decline to unemployment, impacting the well-being of city inhabitants.
The open call is an invitation for innovative minds to come together and contribute dynamic perspectives, drawing inspiration from interdisciplinary collaborations and research-driven solutions. It encourages proposals that address pressing global challenges, embody resilient design principles, foster inclusivity, uphold social responsibility in the built environment and push the boundaries of architectural creativity.
In a statement, Carlo Ratti, curator of Biennale Architettura 2025, said, “We architects like to think we are smart, but real intelligence is everywhere—the disembodied ingenuity of evolution, the growing power of computers and the collective wisdom of the crowd. To face a burning world, architecture must harness all the intelligence around us,” calling upon architects to embrace and integrate these various forms of intelligence to risk innovative architectural propositions.
Project visionary and Senate President Pro Tempore Legarda states, “The Philippine Pavilion at the Venice Biennale will serve as a platform to emphasize the imperative of innovative solutions that prioritize environmental and social concerns. It is crucial that we take an assertive stance in this initiative, proactively working towards a sustainable and resilient future for our nation and the world.”
Victorino Mapa Manalo, chair of the NCCA and Commissioner of the Philippine Pavilion, invites Filipinos “to seize this opportunity to contribute to shaping the architectural discourse at the Venice Biennale, echoing our nation’s commitment to sustainable and transformative design.”
Housed at the Artiglierie in the Arsenale, the Philippine participation in the Venice Biennale is made possible through the unwavering support of the NCCA, DFA and the Office of Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda.
The deadline for submission is on April 30. Results will be announced on or before May 31.
For details on the submission process, requirements and guidelines, visit philartvencebiennale.com or email [email protected].
