GENS Public Programme

Saturday, 10 May
Collective Baukultur
Teatro Piccolo Arsenale (Campo de la Tana, 2161, Venice)
5 pm - 7 pm
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Speakers include among others: Oliver Martin (Chair of the Davos Baukultur Alliance), Vivian Brady-Phillips (Head of Strategic Initiatives, Urban Transformation, World Economic Forum),  Antonio Gómez-Palacio (Chair of DIALOG).
This event launches the Conferences of the GENS Public Programme, exploring how high-quality Baukultur (building-culture) shapes the built environment through collective intelligence and cross-sector collaboration. It highlights the shared responsibility of governments, businesses, and communities in fostering cultural, social, and economic well-being. Aligned with the Biennale Architettura 2025’s theme Intelligens, the discussion examines how collective thinking and innovative practices create meaningful, high-quality spaces that enhance everyday life across diverse contexts.

Co-organised with the Davos Baukultur Alliance, a global initiative uniting over 80 governments, businesses, and civil society organisations to advance collective action in improving the quality of living environments through cultural, social, and environmental solutions.

Tuesday, 13 May
Gone with the (Hot) Wind? Cities and Artistic Heritage Facing the Climate Crisis
Ca’ Giustinian, Sala delle Colonne (San Marco 1364/A – 30124, Venice)
10 am - 1:30 pm
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Speakers include among others: Hélène Chartier (Director of Urban Planning and Design at C40), Ferruccio Resta (President of Fondazione Politecnico di Milano), Antonio Aurigemma (President of the Regional Council of Lazio), Carlo Carraro (Ca’ Foscari University of Venice), Matteo Lepore (ANCI Coordinator of Metropolitan Cities), Enrico Giovannini (Scientific Director of ASviS).
This conference explores the need to protect cities and human settlements from the escalating effects of the climate crisis. Rising sea levels, extreme weather, fires, and high temperatures threaten not only people but also monuments, historic buildings, and urban spaces. Venice, as a symbol of both the fragility of historic cities and cultural heritage, highlights the urgency of exploring innovative solutions that integrate sustainable architecture with adaptation policies to safeguard our cities.

Co-organised with ASviS, the Italian Alliance for Sustainable Development, established in 2016, which aims to raise awareness of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and mobilise stakeholders to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Saturday, 24 May
The Intelligence of Cities
Ca’ Giustinian, Sala delle Colonne (San Marco 1364/A – 30124, Venice)
10 am - 7 pm
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Speakers include among others: Philippe Chiambaretta (Architect and Urba Planner, founder of PCA-STREAM,) Rosina Vinyes (Architect and Urban Planner, University of Barcelona), Martine Drozdz (Geographer and Urban Planner), Michel Desvignes (Landscape Architect), Jean Guiony (President of the Institute of Land Transition, and Founder of Aqua Alta), Gabrielle Fack (Economist), Yaëlle Amsellem Mainguy (Sociologist and Research Associate at CERLIS).
This seminar, divided into morning and afternoon sessions, investigates shifting urban paradigms, particularly in smaller cities, where transformation increasingly depends on human intelligence rather than technology alone. Structured around five expert-led roundtables, the event addresses urgent topics such as underground space management, AI surveillance, greening cities, and rural regeneration. Running alongside these discussions are two live hackathons, where students in architecture, urban planning, and design will develop and present innovative solutions, culminating in project presentations at the seminar’s conclusion.

Co-organised with Jean-Louis Missika (Media Sociologist, editor of La Grande Conversation, former Deputy Mayor of Paris for Urban Planning, Architecture, Innovation, and Greater Paris).

Wednesday, 28 May
European Cities Conversation on Climate-Responsive Urbanism and Architecture
Ca’ Giustinian, Sala delle Colonne (San Marco 1364/A – 30124, Venice)
10 am - 2 pm
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Speakers include among others: Filipa Roseta (Deputy Mayor for Housing, Local Development, and Municipal Works of Lisbon), Jules Pipe (Deputy Mayor for Planning, Regeneration and the Fire Service of London), Maro Evangelidou (Deputy Mayor of Urban Regeneration and Resilience of Athens), Maurizio Carta (Deputy Mayor for Urban Regeneration of Palermo), Maurizio Veloccia (Deputy Mayor for Urban Planning of Rome), Raffaele Laudani (Deputy Mayor of Urban Planning of Bologna).
This event will bring together Deputy Mayors and city leaders from key European cities to discuss the way we build, plan and design cities to respond to climate change and modern challenges. Sessions will focus on urban planning, urban regeneration, housing and financing, from policies to implementation, showcasing the collaboration between city leaders, the private sector, and communities to foster clean construction and create green and thriving cities and neighbourhoods. Special attention will be given to the housing crisis, with an emphasis on creating inclusive, environmentally sustainable housing for all.

Co-organised with C40, a global network of nearly 100 mayors of the world’s leading cities that are united in action to confront the climate crisis and create a future where everyone, everywhere can thrive.  

Saturday, 7 June
Climate Tech Startups
Corderie dell’Arsenale, Speakers’ Corner *
3 pm - 7 pm
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Speakers include among others: Carlo Bagnoli (President of Venisia and Professor, Ca’ Foscari University), Simona Maschi (Director, CIID Copenaghen), Stefano Micelli (Professor, Ca’ Foscari University), Federico Cuppoloni (Cleantech4Italy).
This event explores how innovative startups are addressing the climate crisis through cutting-edge technologies, such as carbon capture, energy storage, methane emissions reduction, and smart buildings. It also examines the transformative potential of Deep Tech in reshaping industries and driving the “fourth wave” of innovation, with a focused discussion on Future Farming and Nature Co-design.

Co-organised with Venice Climate Week, which runs from June 3 to 8, aligning with two key UN dates: World Environment Day (June 5) and World Oceans Day (June 8). This international forum aims to spark transformative dialogue and strategic collaboration on climate action, bringing together pioneers, institutions, and communities to shape the ecological transition through new narratives, actionable goals, and systemic innovation.

* To access the Corderie dell’Arsenale and the Speakers’ Corner, visitors must hold a valid exhibition ticket for the Biennale Architettura 2025.

The Biennale Architettura 2025 features the Speakers’ Corner to host the Workshops, activities and debates included in the GENS Public Programme, marshalling collective intelligence to transform the built and natural environments in response to the climate crisis and expanding the meaning of Intelligens through public discourse. Located in a prominent position within the Corderie dell’Arsenale, the Speakers’ Corner is designed by Christopher Hawthorne, Johnston Marklee, and Florencia Rodriguez.

Developed by contributors to the Space for Ideas and myriad others, these Workshops include panel discussions, film screenings, workshops, lectures, collective actions, storytelling, choreographed performances, and more.

Supported by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, Workshops animates the Speakers’ Corner over the course of the Exhibition, inviting audiences to both partake and participate in the constellation of ideas being explored as part of Intelligens.

An ongoing event series entitled Restaging Criticism, organized by Christopher Hawthorne and Florencia Rodriguez as part of the Speakers’ Corner, presents a series of events across four categories, all relating to contemporary architectural criticism: Modes and Platforms, Territories, Operative/Operation, and Emerging Voices.

The workshops’ schedule will be announced soon.