Grounded

Curated by Ceren Erdem and Bilge Kalfa, Grounded will be presented by the Türkiye Pavilion at the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale.

Türkiye Pavilion is coordinated by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV), co-sponsored by Schüco Türkiye and VitrA, and realised with the contribution of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye.

Grounded approaches soil as a carrier of ecological and cultural memory, presenting it as an ecosystem that embodies natural intelligence and serves as a living archive and supportive model. The exhibition emphasises that this often-overlooked element provides crucial insights into past civilizations and ecological systems, and highlights the potential for coexistence with nature.

With a blend of innovative research and traditional soil construction techniques, Grounded fosters an interdisciplinary narrative that broadens global understanding and encourages meaningful dialogue. It brings together visions of the future that equally value life above and below the soil, therefore challenging us to consider the profound impacts of human activities—such as construction, mining and industrial development—on the surface and in the deeper layers of the earth. The exhibition invites reflection on the often-hidden consequences of these activities, including the loss of biodiversity and the erasure of cultural histories. 

Inspired by Türkiye’s rich heritage, particularly archaeological sites such as Göbeklitepe, the project highlights the importance of integrating traditional practices that illustrate ecological understanding with modern sustainable architectural approaches. This vision seeks to honour both environmental and cultural legacies.

Curated by Ceren Erdem and Bilge Kalfa 

Individual participants: Hüseyin Aksoy, Michael Akstaller, E. Füsun Alioğlu & Senem Akçay, Ali Mahmut Demirel, Sinem Dişli, Yelda Gin, Ali Miharbi, Özgül Öztürk, Serkan Taycan, Orkan Telhan. Participating teams: Bire-Pan, Common Action Walls, Herkes İçin Mimarlık & Poçolana Works, Mono Earth, Ozruh, Rec II, ReYard House, Solidified, Yalın Architects.

Architectural research assistants: Enes Yılmaz, Leonie Todd, Karim Gohary, Neha Goel, Simonida Galovic / Curatorial assistant: Dicle Beştaş / Exhibition design: Bilge Kalfa Architecture / Graphic design: Paleworks / Editor: Melis Cankara

Organised by Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV). With the contribution of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye. Co-sponsors: Schüco Türkiye and VitrA. Airline partner: Turkish Airlines.

The Türkiye Pavilion has taken part in La Biennale di Venezia since 2014, thanks to the acquisition of Arsenale’s Sale d’Armi for twenty years between 2014 and 2034, on the initiative of İKSV and with the support of 21 sponsors.

Further information: turkiyepavilion25.iksv.org / Media inquiries: media [​at​] iksv.org.