‘Pressure Cooker’ by National Pavilion UAE for Venice Biennale Architettura
- Last updated: February 2, 2025 | 19:16
Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer
The Pavilion of the United Arab Emirates has announced its forthcoming exhibition, Pressure Cooker, at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia (May 10 — Nov. 23). Curated by Emirati architect and scholar Azza Aboualam, the exhibition investigates the evolving relationship between architecture and food production in the UAE, suggesting innovative solutions for more sustainable food production at both individual and communal levels. Through a research-based approach, Pressure Cooker explores themes of self-sufficiency and introduces architectural solutions specifically designed for arid environments. By reimagining the greenhouse for arid climates, the exhibition strives to offer new perspectives on food security – an issue of growing urgency, both regionally and globally.
With climate change disrupting agricultural systems, traditional farming methods face mounting threats, ranging from soil degradation to temperature extremes. Recent studies suggest that a significant portion of global food production could be at risk by the end of the century, if emissions continue to rise. Pressure Cooker examines how local expertise in food production has adapted to the specific climatic and environmental conditions of the Gulf region over time. It gives the context of the UAE’s food production landscape in a global framework, emphasising the need for adaptable practices.
The exhibition builds on archival research and fieldwork that examines existing food-growing infrastructures in the UAE, located in resource-rich landscapes which are often obscured, overlooked, or physically separated from urban centres. The project explores local design solutions that were conceived under conditions of food scarcity over the years, ranging from the vernacular to the technologically sophisticated. By proposing a series of greenhouse models, Pressure Cooker looks into how architecture can respond to the UAE’s and the globe’s food security challenges, resulting in a possible future in which these forms can be integrated in built and lived environments.
Research findings by Aboualam, to be exhibited in Venice and supplemented with an accompanying publication, will show the different ways in which food, architecture, and the built environment overlap. Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, UAE Minister of Culture, said that “this thought-provoking showcase exemplifies the UAE’s leadership in advancing architectural solutions tailored for arid environments, while promoting a global dialogue on sustainability and self-sufficiency in food.”
Angela Migally, Executive Director, Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation, National Pavilion UAE Commissioner, said: “The Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation remains steadfast in its commitment to nurturing growth and fostering understanding within the UAE’s vibrant architecture, art, and culture community.” Azza Aboualam said that “Pressure Cooker will exhibit research that speaks to one of the most pressing challenges of our time: food security. Ultimately, Pressure Cooker asks: Using the UAE as a case study, how can architecture be mobilised towards greater food security?” Laila Binbrek, Director, National Pavilion UAE – La Biennale di Venezia, said: “The National Pavilion UAE is committed to sharing the country’s untold stories on a global stage, bridging the UAE’s rich cultural heritage with international discourse. This year, we are honoured to present the pioneering work of Emirati architect and scholar Azza Aboualam, whose exploration of sustainable food systems reflects the UAE’s dedication to addressing global challenges with creativity and foresight.”
The Biennale Architettura 2025 will be curated by Italian architect, engineer, and educator Carlo Ratti, with the title Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective. The National Pavilion UAE is commissioned by the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation and supported by the UAE Ministry of Culture and has a permanent pavilion at La Biennale di Venezia’s Arsenale – Saled’Armi. Azza Aboualam is an Assistant Professor at the College of Arts and Creative Enterprises at Zayed University, Dubai, and a Co-founder and Director of Research at Holesum Studio, an interdisciplinary architecture and design practice based between New York and Sharjah.
She co-founded the studio in 2021, a few years after graduating from the Yale School of Architecture. Her scholarly interests include the intersection of memory, architecture and society in the Middle East and North Africa region. Aboualam has worked with the UAE Ministry of Culture’s Architecture Initiative and while working in Sharjah’s Department of Public Works, she managed the design and construction of large-scale projects such as the Aga Khan Award–winning Wasit Wetland Center. The National Pavilion UAE is an award-winning pavilion that curates the untold stories about the UAE’s arts and architecture through its participation in the International Art and Architecture Exhibitions organised by La Biennale di Venezia.
In 2021, the National Pavilion UAE’s exhibition titled Wetland, was awarded the Golden Lion for Best National Participation at the Biennale Architettura. In parallel with its exhibitions in Venice, the National Pavilion UAE engages with communities in the UAE, to support the growth of the local cultural and creative industries, through public programming and professional opportunities. Its Venice internship programme has provided training and hands-on experience to more than two hundred interns, many of whom are now working in the cultural sector.
Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation (SHF) is a private not-for-profit foundation committed to the cultivation of a more creative, connected, and thriving UAE community. Based in Abu Dhabi, it oversees a diverse portfolio of not-for-profit programmes and initiatives spanning the arts, culture, heritage, human development, and early childhood development in the UAE and internationally. The UAE Ministry of Culture supports Emirati cultural, artistic and heritage institutions, by providing a platform for creative and talented individuals across various fields, and promoting dialogue between different cultures.