

Houses are extended or altered as the family unit expands and with the simultaneous slow-moving changes in habits, in a constant quest for a permanent solution. All that is permanent is the founding action marking out the lines of the boundary wall, tracing the confines of the private sphere and the external appearance of a totally inward-looking home.
By shifting the focus from the fast growing and progressively consolidated urban environment – the scene of the most striking changes, with Abu Dhabi and Dubai to the fore – towards a greater attention on quality of life and the impact of changes to the social unit on the built environment, we can see the other face of a fast-developing area and a nation and population with a strong identity, subject to major change and strain, and the true nature of a living concept that reflects the lifestyle and identity of the United Arab Emirates.

until 27 November 2016
National Pavilion UAE
Curator: Yasser Elsheshtawy
Commissioner: Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation
Supported by: UAE Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development
Set-up design: Paolo De Benedictis
Arsenale, Sale d'armi
Venice

Stone: Origins and Future in Architecture
On June 12 and 13, 2025, IUAV University of Venice will host "Stone is…," an international forum entirely dedicated to natural stone. Organized by PNA, this event aims to thoroughly explore the material's enduring value and sustainability, featuring insights from internationally renowned speakers.