he Kingdom of Bahrain’s national pavilion Heatwave was awarded the Golden Lion for Best National Participation at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition, La Biennale di Venezia, during an award ceremony held Saturday in Venice, Italy.The award was received by Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities and Commissioner of the Pavilion, in the presence of team members Noura Al Sayeh, Deputy Commissioner; Andrea Faraguna, Curator and Head of Design and Research; and Batool Al Shaikh, Pavilion Coordinator. This marks Bahrain’s second Golden Lion at the Biennale, following its first win in 2010.On this occasion, HE Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed expressed Bahrain’s appreciation to La Biennale di Venezia for providing a global platform for the exchange of ideas and initiatives. He noted that Heatwave addresses environmental challenges faced not only by Bahrain but by the world at large, and commended the team for their creative efforts in designing and presenting the pavilion.Andrea Faraguna also expressed appreciation to the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, and the Biennale jury for their support. He commended the contributions of the colleagues and collaborators who helped develop and realise the pavilion.The Kingdom of Bahrain inaugurated its national pavilion Heatwave at the Arsenale, the main venue of the Biennale. This eighth participation builds on the Kingdom’s ongoing engagement with the global architecture community, offering its architectural vision in response to environmental and social challenges.The participation was led by Andrea Faraguna, who oversaw curatorial, design, and research efforts. Contributors to the accompanying publication include Eman Ali, Abdulla Janahi, Alexander Puzrin, Caitlin Mueller, Eduardo Gascón Alvarez, Jonathan Brearley, Laila Al Shaikh, Latifa Al Khayat, Leslie Norford, Maitham Al Mubarak, Maryam Al Jomairi, Mohammad Salim, Paris Bezanis, Viola Zhang, and Wafa Al Ghatam. The structural design was developed by Alexander Puzrin and Mario Monotti.The pavilion presents an architectural concept to address the rising global temperatures through a passive outdoor cooling system inspired by traditional Bahraini techniques. It aims to enhance environmental adaptability and support sustainability, particularly in regions increasingly affected by heatwaves.The design incorporates a geothermal well and a solar chimney to connect underground humidity with exterior airflow. The structure is adaptable to diverse urban environments.The pavilion focuses on the potential of passive cooling and shaded structures to moderate temperatures, and highlights the intersection of climate, architecture, and social equity. Alongside the pavilion, the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities is releasing a printed publication including digital simulations, essays, and field studies to extend the reach of the pavilion’s underlying research. (ICE Doha)

Fonte notizia: BNA