RIYADH — The National Pavilion of Saudi Arabia at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia will feature The Um Slaim School: An Architecture of Connection, curated by Beatrice Leanza and assisted by Sara Almutlaq.

The exhibition, presented by Syn Architects (Sara Alissa and Nojoud Alsudairi), will launch an alternative pedagogical platform aimed at reimagining architectural education in Saudi Arabia while fostering international dialogue on urban transformation.

Established in 2021, the Um Slaim Collective is a collaborative initiative by Riyadh-based Syn Architects that explores the displacement of Najdi architecture in central Riyadh.

The exhibition will showcase a living archive integrating oral histories, visual documentation, and experimental methodologies to articulate new ways of reading and shaping the built environment.

It aims to address pressing global challenges, including climate change, resource management, and the socio-urban dimension of cities.

The pavilion will highlight the role of local pedagogical institutions in shaping sustainable urban futures by examining Riyadh’s architectural heritage through the lens of ecology, identity, and urban-making.

A series of workshops and public sessions, led by curator Beatrice Leanza and supported by Maryam Al Noaimi, will contribute to spatial and urban discourse in the region while encouraging transnational collaboration. A publication will accompany the program, documenting the project’s findings for continued application beyond the Biennale.

Dr. Sumayah Al-Solaiman, Chief Executive Officer of the Architecture and Design Commission at the Ministry of Culture, emphasized the significance of Saudi Arabia’s fourth participation at the International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia.

"This year, with The Um Slaim School: An Architecture of Connection, we reaffirm our commitment to contemporary architectural approaches that honor our heritage while addressing global challenges. By showcasing emerging designers on a prestigious international stage, we seek to inspire solutions for sustainable urban development locally and worldwide," she said.

Syn Architects’ partners Sara Al Issa and Nojoud Al Sudairi described the project as a foundation for reimagining architecture through spatial narratives and materiality, stating: "This pavilion invites a collective retelling of our impact on the environments we inhabit and our urban histories. Our interest lies in the symbiosis between our values and landscapes, exploring how our ideas shape the world and how the parameters of our built environments influence that shaping."

Curator Beatrice Leanza highlighted the pavilion’s role in showcasing Saudi Arabia’s evolving architectural discourse, adding: "Our participation at the Biennale Architettura 2025 embraces the emergence of generational voices in Saudi Arabia that are reshaping spatial practices. The Um Slaim School reflects a critical shift towards participatory frameworks for urban futures and eco-social resilience while remaining rooted in vernacular knowledge."

The Saudi Pavilion, located in the Arsenale, will be open from May 10 (pre-opening May 8-9) to November 23, 2025. This marks Saudi Arabia’s eighth participation in the International Architecture and Art Exhibitions at La Biennale di Venezia.

The pavilion serves as a platform for cultural practitioners, facilitating research, collaboration, and innovation in architecture and urban studies. — SG