Morocco will participate in the 19th International Architecture Exhibition – Venice Biennale, which will take place from May to November 2025. This event provides an opportunity to showcase the kingdom's rich architectural heritage and innovative spirit on the international stage. For this occasion, Morocco will present the exhibition Materiae Palimpsest at the Arsenale, designed by Moroccan architects Khalil Morad El Ghilali and El Mehdi Belyasmine. According to Villa Giardini, the project explores the theme of earth architecture, combining traditional craftsmanship with contemporary technologies. It will offer «an immersive experience in the art of earth construction, highlighting its durability, flexibility, and intrinsic beauty». The exhibition will also emphasize how the use of earth, a local and renewable material, embodies the principles of a closed-loop system, minimizing waste and maximizing resource use at various scales. The two architects also examine how these ancient practices can be adapted to the modern world, while celebrating the sustainable potential of earth as a building material. The project pays tribute to traditions deeply embedded in the local cultural fabric, offering an expression of Moroccan identity shaped by the country's geography and memory. Furthermore, the aim is to create a dialogue between local artisans, who are custodians of traditional techniques, and architects and engineers who employ cutting-edge tools. The exhibition will demonstrate how this fusion of knowledge can give rise to new architectural forms that preserve and evolve ancient methods while harnessing the opportunities offered by modern technologies. At the heart of the pavilion, holograms will feature two artisans perpetuating ancestral gestures. The space will also include works by Moroccan artist Soumiya Jalal. Morocco's participation is the result of a collaboration with the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication, as well as the Ministry of Territorial Development, Urban Planning, Housing, and City Policy.
