Bahrain has once again seized the spotlight at the Venice Architecture Biennale, clinching the Golden Lion for Best National Participation with its 2025 pavilion, Heatwave. This marks the Kingdom’s second triumph at the Biennale, the first being in 2010 with the evocative Reclaim pavilion, which showcased traditional fishermen’s huts to highlight the nation’s maritime heritage. It was presented with the prize at the official award ceremony of the 2025 Venice Biennale, held at the event’s headquarters Ca’ Giustinian.
Curated by Andrea Faraguna and commissioned by Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, Heatwave addresses the pressing issue of extreme heat—a challenge increasingly relevant in our warming world. The pavilion is a masterclass in successfully blending traditional Bahraini cooling techniques, such as wind towers and shaded courtyards, with contemporary material research to create a modular, inhabitable structure. This design not only pays homage to Bahrain’s architectural heritage but also offers scalable solutions for public spaces facing similar climatic challenges.
Its design cleverly taps into passive cooling techniques by combining geothermal wells and solar chimneys, which together form a kind of environmental “breathing system”—drawing cool underground air upwards, providing relief without heavy reliance on energy-consuming devices. For exhibition spaces where digging deep isn’t feasible, the pavilion ingeniously employs mechanical ventilation to replicate this effect.
Structurally, Heatwave is elegantly simple yet highly adaptable: it consists of a platform-like floor beneath a broad cantilevered ceiling, both balanced atop a single central column. This modular setup allows easy adjustments to fit diverse urban landscapes, making it a practical blueprint for real-world settings.
What sets the pavilion apart is its human-centric approach. The pavilion brings to the forefront the experiences of outdoor workers who endure extreme heat daily, emphasizing the need for equitable and sustainable architectural solutions. By introducing the concept of the “thermal commons,” Heatwave advocates for shared environmental resources that promote communal well-being and adaptive design.
The international jury, comprising Swiss curator Hans Ulrich Obrist, MoMA architecture and design senior curator Paola Antonelli, and South African architect Mpho Matsipa, praised Heatwave for its environmental intelligence and social consideration, noting its presentation of “viable proposals for extreme heat conditions.” This recognition not only elevates Bahrain’s status in the global architectural community but also underscores the importance of culturally resonant and sustainable design in addressing climate challenges.
Other winners of the Golden Lion also include Diller Scofidio + Renfro’s project, named Canal Cafe, which clinched the prize for the best participation in the international exhibition, which is titled Intelligens Natural Artificial Collective. Part espresso bar, part laboratory, it purifies water from the Arsenal lagoon to create coffee for the biennale’s visitors. Meanwhile, American philosopher Donna Haraway received the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement, honoring her groundbreaking contributions to science, technology, and feminist theory; and the late Italian architect Italo Rota was posthumously awarded the Special Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement in Memoriam, following his passing last year at the age of 70. Both honorees were chosen last month by this year’s Biennale curator, Italian architect Carlo Ratti.
