Norman Foster and Porsche Present Gateway to Venice’s Waterway at Biennale Architettura 2025

At the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale, architect Norman Foster and Porsche design chief Michael Mauer unveiled 'Gateway to Venice’s Waterway,' a 37-meter installation at the Arsenale. The structure, inspired by the Porsche 917 and Venetian bridges, serves as a symbolic entry point for electric mobility on water and land. Made from recycled materials with an aluminum tubular frame, it features a kinetic surface based on the Porsche Macan. During the Biennale's opening week, visitors can test alternative mobility solutions including Schiller Bikes and the Frauscher x Porsche 850 Fantom Air electric boat. The project is part of Porsche's 'The Art of Dream' initiative, launched in 2021, exploring intersections of art and technology. Foster and Mauer discussed the cultural parallels between automobiles and architecture, with Foster noting that Le Corbusier often placed cars in front of his buildings. The installation aims to demonstrate how infrastructure and vehicles can reshape urban spaces, with Venice serving as a model for future cities facing environmental challenges.