Saudi Pavilion Concludes Participation at Venice Biennale 2025 With Najdi Architecture Exhibition

📷SPA

VENICE, December 1, 2025 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – The Saudi Pavilion has concluded its participation in La Biennale di Venezia 2025 following a six-month architectural exhibition titled “Um Slaim School: An Architecture of Connection,” which ran from May 10 to November 23.

The exhibition was presented by Syn Architects, led by architects Sara Alissa and Nojoud Alsudairi, under the curatorship of Beatrice Leanza, with support from assistant curator Sara Almutlaq.

The pavilion showcased research and documentation efforts on Najdi architecture in Riyadh through the Um Slaim Lab, a research initiative launched in 2021 focused on studying local architectural methods and ongoing transformations within Najdi architectural practices.

Designed as an open and interactive archive, the exhibition allowed visitors to explore traditional and contemporary building materials, archival and recent photographs, models, films and audio recordings.

As part of its concluding program, the pavilion hosted a panel discussion titled “Building Participatory Infrastructures – Hyperlocal Practices and Connective Organizations.” Participants included the project team alongside regional cultural figures, among them Syn Architects, architect Noura Al-Sayeh Holtrop, and writer and curator Shumon Basar.