Venice: On Thursday, the Sultanate of Oman's pavilion at the 19th Venice Biennale of Architecture 2025 was officially inaugurated.
The Omani booth, dubbed "Athar," is themed at the integration of human and artificial intelligence technology in architecture. The inauguration ceremony was held under the patronage of HH Sayyid Nizar Al Julanda Al Said, Oman's Ambassador to the Italian Republic.
Sayyid Said bin Sultan Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Youth for Culture and Commissioner General of the Sultanate of Oman pavilion at the Venice Biennale of Architecture 2025, remarked during the opening ceremony that the Sultanate of Oman's participation in the event provides an opportunity to highlight the elements of the Omani architectural identity, which are steeped in tradition yet open to the ideas of modernization, sustainability, and creativity.
"It is more than a design involvement; it is an integrated experience that depicts the life of Omani society through narrative and visual ideas combined with architectural creativity," according to Sayyyid Said.
He noted that this will be Oman's first entry in the architectural extravaganza, making it a watershed moment in the country's cultural and architectural presence on the world stage.
"We have attempted to make our presence a true expression of the spirit of the Omani soil, reflecting the country's profound relationship with nature, devotion to genuine values, and aspirations for a future based on respect and a new vision," Sayyid Said said.
"Our participation in the event is based on the 'Omani sabla', a unique expression of space for communication, decision-making, and dialogue," says Sayyid Said. (Sabla is a traditional social gathering place for Omani people during social occasions. )
The Omani sabla, he believes, is an important component of community life and an inspiring example for contemporary and future architecture.
Architect Majida Al Hanai curated the Omani exhibit, creating a design experience that combines Omani workmanship, spatial narrative, and material innovation, staying true to the Biennale's theme of integrating human and artificial intelligence technologies in architecture.
The pavilion reinterprets the sabla in a contemporary architectural design, emphasizing its potential as a flexible model that links the past with the present while retaining true Omani principles such as hospitality, communication, and community spirit.
Oman's exhibit at the Venice Architecture Biennale will be open throughout the Biennale's duration, from May 10 to November 23, 2025.
