Water Parliaments Reimagines Architecture to Tackle Climate and Water Crises

Inspired by the United Nations’ declaration that “the climate crisis is primarily a water crisis,” the exhibition reframes architecture as a collaborative multispecies practice. It invites a critical rethinking of how humans, non-human beings, and water systems interact, suggesting a future in which these relationships become central to our built environments.

At the Docks Cantieri Cucchini in Venice, the historical site is transformed into a symbolic “Water Parliament,” where visitors engage with seven immersive installations. These “projective architectures” include:

• Aquifer Communities

• Denomination of Destination

• Hydric Doors

• Data Fountains

• Sediment Saloon

• Pyrineucus–Eco-Hydrator

• Waters of the World

Each installation presents speculative yet actionable ideas on how water can inform territorial, architectural, and societal strategies. The exhibition foregrounds the Catalan, Valencian, and Balearic contexts, while engaging global challenges such as droughts, water rights, and the loss of ecological knowledge.

Multimedia, Scholarship, and Participation

The exhibition doesn’t stop at physical installations. It includes a compelling film titled “Water Conflicts”, produced in collaboration with six groups of 20 multidisciplinary local voices, offering real-world perspectives on water-based disputes and their socio-political implications.

Accompanying the film is the book “100 Words for Water: A Vocabulary”, published by Lars Müller, which features conversations with over a hundred global thinkers—from philosophers and scientists to architects and artists—creating a shared linguistic landscape to discuss water’s multifaceted roles.

Further extending the project is “The Atlas: Water Architectures,” a dynamic, digital archive mapping water-related spatial and cultural practices around the world. The public is invited to contribute to the Atlas, making it a living, participatory platform for ecological dialogue.

Architectural Practice as Climate Action

At its core, Water Parliaments proposes a paradigm shift in architectural thinking. It encourages practitioners and the public alike to regard water not just as a resource, but as an active agent—a collaborator in reshaping both policy and place. This approach is labeled “projective ecosocial architecture,” which seeks to bridge speculative design with concrete ecological interventions.

The exhibition is curated, designed, and produced by the trio of:

• Eva Franch i Gilabert, an architect and professor at UMPRUM in Prague, and co-founder of FAST with bases in Barcelona, Prague, and New York.

• Mireia Luzárraga and Alejandro Muiño, co-leads of the Barcelona-based studio TAKK, also operating in New York. Luzárraga is an Assistant Professor at Columbia University GSAPP.

Institutional Commitment to Culture and Climate

The Institut Ramon Llull, a public institution that promotes Catalan language and culture internationally, organizes this event as part of its longstanding participation in the Venice Biennale, dating back to 2012 for architecture and 2009 for art. Each project is selected by an annually rotating committee of experts.

Through this initiative, the Institut continues to advocate for cultural productions that intersect art, science, and sustainability, aiming to not only represent Catalonia on a global stage but also contribute to urgent conversations on planetary well-being.