Ireland’s Representation at the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale

Ireland will be represented at the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale by Cotter & Naessens Architects. The Minister for Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan TD, launched the initiative at the Irish Architectural Archive. Through Culture Ireland, the Department commissions Ireland’s participation in Venice in partnership with the Arts Council.

The Venice Architecture Biennale, running from 10 May to 23 November 2025, is the premier global exhibition for architecture. It provides a platform for architects to engage with an international audience of industry leaders, institutions and the public.

Curators Cotter & Naessens will present Assembly, a multi-sensory installation inspired by the Citizens’ Assembly. This project aligns with the Biennale’s theme Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective. set by curator Carlo Ratti. The installation will offer visitors a space to listen, participate and reflect.

Minister O’Donovan acknowledged the significance of Ireland’s participation:

"I want to congratulate Cotter & Naessens it is a phenomenal achievement to be selected to represent Ireland at Venice Architecture Biennale, a place where the world’s leading artists and architects will present work. This is an opportunity to showcase the vibrant and creative nature of contemporary Irish architecture to an international audience. My Department, through Culture Ireland, commissions Ireland at Venice in partnership with the Arts Council, and it is a wonderful moment to celebrate the exceptional quality of Irish arts on a global stage. I’m wishing everyone involved the very best of luck at the Biennale this year.”

Assembly continues Ireland’s strong presence at the Biennale, following exhibitions such as In Search of Hy-Brasil (2023), Entanglement (2021) and Free Market (2018). Cotter & Naessens, an architectural and design studio based in Cork City since 2001, was founded by Louise Cotter and David Naessens.

Following its Venice debut, Assembly will tour nationally through 2026. A film documenting its creation, directed by Michelle Delea with cinematography by Felix Castaldo and sound by David Stalling, will accompany the exhibition.

The curators articulated their vision:

“To assemble is to gather together as a group of people with a common interest. To assemble is to construct a whole from constituent parts. As both congregation and construction, assembly is at the heart of the architectural process.”

This project reinforces Ireland’s standing in global architecture and highlights the nation’s commitment to design innovation on the world stage.

As the Exclusive Partner and Official Timepiece of the Biennale Architettura since 2014, Rolex continues its commitment to architectural excellence through the Rolex Perpetual Arts Initiative, supporting innovation, sustainability and the transmission of knowledge to future generations.