The National Pavilion of Saudi Arabia at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia will feature The Um Slaim School: An Architecture of Connection, curated by Beatrice Leanza and assisted by Sara Almutlaq. The exhibition, presented by Syn Architects (Sara Alissa and Nojoud Alsudairi), will launch an alternative pedagogical platform aimed at reimagining architectural education in Saudi Arabia while fostering international dialogue on urban transformation. Established in 2021, the Um Slaim Collective is a collaborative initiative by Riyadh-based Syn Architects that explores the displacement of Najdi architecture in central Riyadh. The exhibition will showcase a living archive integrating oral histories, visual documentation, and experimental methodologies to articulate new ways of reading and shaping the built environment. It aims to address pressing global challenges, including climate change, resource management, and the socio-urban dimension of cities. The pavilion will highlight the role of local pedagogical institutions in shaping sustainable urban futures by examining Riyadh’s architectural heritage through the lens of ecology, identity, and urban-making. A series of workshops and public sessions, led by curator Beatrice Leanza and supported by Maryam Al Noaimi, will contribute to spatial and urban discourse in the region while encouraging transnational collaboration. A publication will […]