The UAE National Pavilion successfully welcomed 74,000 visitors at the International Architecture Exhibition at the Venice Biennale in Italy since its opening on May 8th. The pavilion concluded its sixth participation in the 19th International Architecture Exhibition, which is the most attended edition of the Venice Architecture Biennale. Curated by Emirati architect Aza Al Qubaisi, founder of Holsom Studio and Assistant Professor at the College of Arts and Creative Industries at Zayed University, the exhibition 'On a Quiet Fire' adorned the UAE National Pavilion. Through archival research and fieldwork, the exhibition delved into the relationship between architecture and food production methods, particularly studying the agricultural infrastructure in the UAE, which is located in resource-rich environments often separate from urban centers. Through a series of new designs for agricultural structures, the exhibition 'On a Quiet Fire' explores how architecture can respond to the challenges of food security in the UAE and globally, envisioning a future where these structures can be adapted, developed, and integrated into our built and living environments. The curator, Aza Al Qubaisi, stated: 'Through the exhibition's events, we did not see these assemblies as static structures, but as living, active systems that allow us to interact with their surroundings and the people engaging with them. The lessons learned in Venice, from material flexibility to crop growth cycles, will guide us in adapting these prototypes and reapplying them in our climatic contexts in the UAE.' Leila Benbrik, Director of the UAE National Pavilion, commented: 'The exhibition 'On a Quiet Fire' sparked a meaningful dialogue on how architecture can respond to one of our era's most pressing issues: food security. Aza Al Qubaisi's research and her exhibition inspired visitors to see architecture as not just providing an agricultural structure, but as actively participating in shaping a sustainable future. We are proud to have shared this experimental project with a global audience and look forward to the development of its ideas and research beyond Venice.' The UAE National Pavilion continued to foster dialogue and cooperation between the UAE and Italy through its Venice Internship Program; this year, interns participated in hands-on workshops in partnership with The Tidal Garden, a Venice-based research platform exploring how food systems can adapt to environmental change. The workshops, held on Sant'Erasmo island, included field explorations of salt plant cultivation, shared meals, meditation sessions, and research into solutions for interconnected challenges, such as drought in the UAE and soil salinity in Venice. Since its launch, the program has welcomed over 300 participants, offering them an immersive experience in exhibition management and cultural exchange.
