Wang Shu and Lu Wenyu Announce “Do Architecture” as Theme for Venice Architecture Biennale 2027

The 20th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, scheduled from May 8 to November 21, 2027, will be themed "Do Architecture: The Possibility of Coexistence in the Face of Real Reality." Announced by curators Wang Shu and Lu Wenyu of Amateur Architecture Studio, the theme proposes a return to a more grounded architectural practice, emphasizing materiality, local participation, craftsmanship, and lived experience amidst global instability and ecological crisis. This curatorial direction marks a notable shift from recent editions, moving away from technologically-driven discourse.

The announcement, made at the Biennale headquarters in Venice, highlights architecture as a direct response to a world grappling with ecological challenges, rapid urbanization, technological abstraction, and the erosion of cultural memory. The deliberately direct title, "Do Architecture," urges the field to move beyond excessive conceptualization and reconnect with the physical realities of building, inhabitation, and coexistence.

A Call for Grounded Practice

Wang Shu and Lu Wenyu describe the current global condition as one of uncertainty, instability, and detachment from reality. They contend that contemporary architecture has often become disconnected from the places and communities it serves, with "overly conceptual experiments often detached from reality." The curators caution against architectural production driven by commercialization, speed, and image-making, arguing that architecture itself is deeply implicated in present environmental and cultural crises. They state that "architecture must recognize the depth of the crisis in which it finds itself," pointing to the destructive impact of large-scale construction on both natural ecosystems and historic urban environments. The exhibition advocates for a slower, more tactile practice rooted in continuity, memory, and repair.

The Amateur Architecture Studio's Influence

Central to the Biennale’s curatorial vision is the long-standing work of Amateur Architecture Studio, founded by Wang Shu and Lu Wenyu. Their practice has consistently explored reclaimed materials, vernacular building traditions, and the coexistence of old and new construction forms. The curators underscored the importance of recovering not only materials but also local cultural memory and craftsmanship, arguing that architecture should preserve the diversity and specificity of places. This approach suggests a focus on architectural solutions that are contextually sensitive and culturally informed.

Key questions to be addressed by the exhibition include architecture’s relationship to climate change, artificial intelligence, rural and urban development, and collective participation. A specific query posed during the announcement was: "Can artificial intelligence coexist with the tactility of human architecture?" The Biennale will also investigate how passive and active environmental strategies, traditional building knowledge, and contemporary technologies can coexist without erasing local identities and lived experience.

Venice as an Active Participant

Beyond the traditional exhibition venues of the Giardini and the Arsenale, the 2027 Biennale will extend directly into Venice itself through architectural interventions across the city. Referencing the legacy of the 1964 Venice Charter on heritage conservation, Wang Shu and Lu Wenyu envision Venice as an active participant in the exhibition. "We should not ignore the city in which the exhibition is taking place, Venice," the curatorial duo stated, emphasizing that the city must not become "an invisible city," invoking Italo Calvino’s writings. This approach suggests a focus on the urban fabric of Venice as both a site and a subject of architectural inquiry.

The curators also stressed the role of education and collective exchange within the Biennale, proposing workshops, dialogues, and forms of direct participation that move beyond discussion toward physical engagement and construction. They conclude, "We should not only discuss, we should do." This emphasis on action and tangible engagement highlights a practical and hands-on approach to architectural discourse.

Key facts:

• Theme: Do Architecture: The Possibility of Coexistence in the Face of Real Reality
• Curators: Wang Shu and Lu Wenyu (Amateur Architecture Studio)
• Dates: May 8 – November 21, 2027

Implications for Architectural Practice

The 2027 Venice Architecture Biennale, under the curatorship of Wang Shu and Lu Wenyu, signals a significant reorientation for architects, designers, and urbanists. The theme "Do Architecture" encourages a critical re-evaluation of contemporary practice, pushing practitioners to consider the material, cultural, and ecological impacts of their work. For students and researchers, it offers a framework to explore vernacular traditions, sustainable building methods, and the integration of advanced technologies with human-centric design. Practices may find renewed emphasis on community engagement, local sourcing, and the preservation of cultural memory, fostering designs that are deeply rooted in their context. The focus on Venice itself as an exhibition space also implies a greater engagement with existing urban environments and heritage conservation, challenging designers to create interventions that respect and enhance historical contexts while addressing contemporary needs. This edition aims to redefine architecture as an ethical and material practice, grounded in continuity and reality.

Source: Designboom, https://www.designboom.com/architecture/do-architecture-possibility-coexistence-face-real-reality-wang-shu-lu-wenyu-venice-architecture-biennale-2027-theme/