AIA UK and AIA CE - Venice Architecture Biennale Study Trip

AIA UK, in collaboration with AIA Continental Europe, hosted a two-day study trip to the Venice Architecture Biennale 2025 on 8–9 November. The visit brought together members from across the UK and Europe to explore this year’s curatorial theme, Intelligens: Natural. Artificial. Collective.

The program began with an architectural visit to Banca Generali by David Chipperfield, where participants examined how contemporary design can respond sensitively to Venice’s historic fabric. The discussion focused on materiality, proportion, and the integration of new interventions within protected urban environments, reinforcing the importance of contextual awareness in architectural practice.

On the second day, participants explored the Biennale exhibitions at the Giardini and Arsenale as a group. The 2025 theme, Intelligens, invited reflection on how architecture navigates the intersection of natural systems, artificial intelligence, and collective human knowledge. Through international pavilions and installations, architects gained insight into emerging approaches to climate adaptation, technological innovation, and socially responsive design.

The trip strengthened collaboration between AIA chapters in the UK and Europe, creating a shared platform for professional exchange and critical dialogue. By combining study, cultural immersion, and peer discussion, the Venice program supported architects in expanding their global perspective and deepening their understanding of how intelligence—natural, artificial, and collective—shapes the future of the built environment.

The co-organizers were Morgan Danner, AIA & Lulu Yang, Assoc AIA.

Written by Lulu Yang, AIA