The first render of Lina Ghotmeh’s design for the permanent Qatar pavilion in the Giardini della Biennale in Venice, Italy, has been revealed at the Venice Architecture Biennale.
Revealed at an event during the opening of the Venice Architecture Biennale last week, the building will be first new national pavilion at the Giardini della Biennale in almost 40 years.
Set to be built on an open space alongside the James Stirling-designed bookshop, the pavilion appears to be entirely wrapped in vertical elements interspaced with reflecting panels.
Pavilion to “foster cultural diplomacy”
The render shows that the building will have an accessible roof, making it a viewpoint for the central area of the garden, which hosts the Venice Architecture Biennale.
Few details were revealed about the pavilion, which is still in the early stages of design.
Speaking at the event, Ghotmeh explained how the pavilion was designed with the aim of “bringing people together”.
“Qatar is a place where the world comes to discuss serious matters while the nation continues to foster cultural diplomacy through art and creativity,” she said.
“This is the vocation of the permanent Qatar Pavilion as well – to be a place where visitors can discover art as a way of bringing people together.
“The question of hospitality is at the centre of the design of the Qatar Pavilion. It is about how a place can embrace people and allow these encounters, especially at this location, which is really at the heart at the Giardini,” she continued.
“Opening up this new platform for Arab voices and presenting us in our diversity brings a new perspective to the Giardini.”
First new national pavilion since 1995
Set to join permanent structures by Alvar Aalto, Carlo Scarpa and Sverre Fehn in the gardens, the building will be the first national pavilion added to the gardens since 1995, when the South Korea pavilion by Seok Chul Kim and Franco Mancuso opened.
Lebanese architect Ghotmeh recently unveiled the Bahrain pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka and previously designed the 2023 Serpentine Pavilion in London.
The Venice Architecture Biennale is currently taking place in Venice. Last week, we revealed several of the national pavilions in a day of online opening and rounded up the 10 highlights.
The Venice Architecture Biennale takes place from 10 May to 23 November 2025. See Dezeen Events Guide for all the latest information you need to know to attend the event, as well as a list of other architecture and design events taking place around the world.
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