Bahrain Wins Golden Lion at 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale Amid Varied Middle Eastern Presentations

Bahrain secured the Golden Lion for best national participation at the 19th Venice Biennale of Architecture, marking its second win after 2010. The pavilion, titled 'Heatwave', explores urban cooling through a sensory installation with soft cushions and lowered air temperature, proposing a prototype for energy-efficient public spaces. Several Middle Eastern nations presented ambitious but often didactic exhibitions. Egypt's display featured infographics, videos, and a 10-meter seesaw with labeled blocks, while Lebanon focused on microbial remediation through drawings. Turkey's large group show examined soil as cultural memory but resembled a trade show. Oman created a 1:1 parametric structure inspired by vernacular details. Azerbaijan and Saudi Arabia employed soft power approaches, with Saudi Arabia's curated presentation studying Najdi architecture loss in Riyadh. Qatar presented 'home' with Hassan Fathy drawings and Jean Nouvel models. Kuwait's off-site research critiqued resource reliance, and the UAE explored food production. Uzbekistan's spare installation on Tashkent Modernism stood out for clarity. The biennale runs until November 23, 2025.