The Pakistan Council of Architects and Town Planners has unveiled the national pavilion for the 19th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia. Titled “(Fr)Agile Systems,” the pavilion explores the dual nature of resilience and vulnerability in the face of climate change, using Pakistan’s rich geological and cultural heritage as a lens.
The pavilion features a striking installation made of rock salt, a material deeply embedded in Pakistan’s geological and cultural history. The salt will undergo continuous cycles of dissolving, rehardening, and reshaping itself in Venice’s humid climate, serving as a metaphor for resilience and a commentary on fragility.
The installation is organized by Coalesce Design Studio (Karachi) and MAS/Architects (Lahore), in collaboration with Valeria Romagnini Solfato (Venice). The commissioner of the pavilion is M. Arif Changezi, Chairperson of the Pakistan Council of Architects and Town Planners.
The pavilion will be open to the public starting May 10, 2025, at Spazio 996/A. Through its material exploration and conceptual framework, “(Fr)Agile Systems” seeks to ignite a critical discourse on climate justice, resilience, and the necessity of regionally responsive design solutions.
Image Courtesy: archdaily.com
