The French Pavilion at the 19th Venice Architecture Biennale showcases an innovative exhibition titled "Vivre avec / Living With," designed by JakobMacfarlane agency in collaboration with Martin Duplantier Architects and Eric Daniel Lacombe EDL. The exhibition, which runs from May 10 to November 23, 2025, addresses critical global challenges including climate change, conflict, and instability through architecture's unique capacity to integrate natural, human, and artificial intelligence.
The winning proposal emerged from a competitive two-phase selection process that began with 45 applicants, narrowed to five pre-selected teams, and concluded with detailed project presentations. JakobMacfarlane, founded by architects Dominique Jakob and Brendan MacFarlane, secured the commission with their forward-thinking approach to contemporary architectural challenges.
"Living With" features a temporary, lightweight structure constructed entirely from reused materials and positioned within the grounds of the French Pavilion, which is currently undergoing renovation. The structure emphasizes porosity and coexistence with the existing pavilion restoration site, creating an open and collaborative environment that functions as both an exhibition space and a laboratory for encounters and discussions.
The collaborative team brings diverse expertise to the project, with JakobMacfarlane focusing on repurposing existing structures, Eric Daniel Lacombe contributing experience in building within vulnerable territories, and Martin Duplantier expanding the project's scope through urban planning and landscape architecture. This multi-faceted approach highlights the exhibition's comprehensive response to contemporary architectural challenges.
Curators have selected 50 projects by French and international teams for display, including nine projects developed by the curators themselves. These works are organized into six thematic sections: Living With the existing, the immediate, the broken, vulnerabilities, nature, and combined intelligences. The exhibition is accompanied by a comprehensive catalog and a diverse program of conferences and events.
As the curatorial team explains: "In this world of ongoing crises and disruptive changes, where conflicts multiply and the climate becomes increasingly unpredictable, where millions of people are displaced while others live in areas ever more exposed to risk, we must learn to live with a state of permanent instability. How can we keep inhabiting this planet by inventing new ways of life in response to these challenges?"
The 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale, curated by Carlo Ratti, centers around the theme "Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective." The French Pavilion's main building in the Giardini will remain closed during the Biennale for renovations aimed at improving visitor experience and energy efficiency, aligning with the Institut Français's commitment to reduce its carbon footprint by at least 25% by 2026 and 40% by 2030.
The alternative exhibition structure has been conceived as a sustainable temporary shelter, built from scaffolding, fabrics, and nets rented locally in Venice. This approach demonstrates the pavilion's commitment to circular economy principles and resource efficiency. Other pavilions in this edition also address circularity issues, including the Danish Pavilion, which serves as a space for material experimentation curated by Søren Pihlmann, and the Serbian Pavilion, featuring an immersive installation made of wool curated by Slobodan Jović.
The French Pavilion's innovative approach to exhibition design and its focus on sustainability and adaptation reflects broader conversations in contemporary architecture about resilience, resourcefulness, and responsibility in an era of environmental and social uncertainty.
