Drawing on the imagination of the arid climate greenhouse, “Pressure Cooker,” architect and curator Azza Aboualam’s exhibition for the 19th Venice Biennale International Architecture Exhibition offers a range of new perspectives on food security and climate change and its impact on agricultural systems, traditional methods and global food production, emphasizing the need for transformation and adaptation of practices and techniques.
Turning its gaze to one of the most pressing challenges of our time, the research carried out for the exhibition will showcase findings on the different ways in which food, architecture and the built environment overlap. The exhibition investigates the changing relationship between architecture and food production in the UAE, proposing innovative solutions for more sustainable food production at both individual and community scales. Through a research-based approach, Pressure Cooker explores themes of self-sufficiency and presents architectural solutions specifically designed for arid environments.
Pressure Cooker, 2024. Photograph courtesy of National Pavilion UAE – La Biennale di Venezia. Photo by Ola Allouz.
By reimagining the greenhouse for arid climates, the exhibition offers new perspectives on food security, an issue of growing urgency both regionally and globally. With climate change disrupting agricultural systems, traditional farming methods face increasing threats, from soil degradation to extreme temperatures. Recent studies suggest that a significant portion of global food production could be at risk by the end of the century if emissions continue to rise. Pressure Cooker examines how local food production expertise has adapted to the specific climatic and environmental conditions of the Gulf region over time. The exhibition situates the UAE’s food production landscape in this global context, emphasizing the need for adaptable practices.
“Pressure Cooker will exhibit research that speaks to one of the most pressing challenges of our time: food security. The exhibition examines the intersection of architecture, innovation, and sustainability to address critical issues shaping our shared future. The curatorial approach is rooted in contemporary research, linking the UAE’s unique cultural and architectural identity to pressing global challenges, offering grounded, technical, and imaginative perspectives on food systems and sustainability. Ultimately, Pressure Cooker asks: Using the UAE as a case study, how can architecture be mobilized towards greater food security?”
Azza Aboualam, Architect and Curator.
The exhibition builds on archival research and fieldwork to examine existing food-growing infrastructures in the UAE, located in resource-rich landscapes that are often obscured, overlooked, or physically separated from urban centers. The project explores local design solutions that were conceived under conditions of food scarcity over the years, ranging from the vernacular to the technologically sophisticated. By experimenting with a series of greenhouse assemblies, Pressure Cooker looks into how architecture can respond to the UAE’s and the globe’s food security challenges, resulting in a possible future in which these forms can be integrated throughout our built and lived environments.
Pressure Cooker, 2024. Photograph courtesy of National Pavilion UAE – La Biennale di Venezia. Photo by Ola Allouz.
“The National Pavilion UAE is committed to sharing the country’s untold stories on a global stage, bridging the UAE’s rich cultural heritage with international discourse. This year, we are honored to present the pioneering work of Emirati architect and scholar Azza Aboualam, whose exploration of sustainable food systems reflects the UAE’s dedication to addressing global challenges with creativity and foresight.”
Laila Binbrek, Director, National Pavilion UAE – La Biennale di Venezia.
Research findings by Aboualam—to be exhibited in Venice and supplemented with an accompanying publication—will present the different ways in which food, architecture, and the built environment overlap. The National Pavilion UAE continues to collaborate with local institutions, such as Zayed University in an ongoing commitment to support research of cultural practitioners, curators and scholars, within the UAE.
“The UAE’s participation in the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia reflects our nation’s steadfast commitment to fostering innovation in addressing critical global challenges. The exhibition highlights the intersection of architecture and food security, demonstrating how sustainable design can contribute to building climate resilience and enhancing resource management. This thought-provoking showcase exemplifies the UAE’s leadership in advancing architectural solutions tailored for arid environments while promoting a global dialogue on sustainability and self-sufficiency in food. We are proud to support this remarkable effort that celebrates Emirati ingenuity and inspires innovative pathways for a sustainable future.”
His Excellency Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, UAE Minister of Culture.
