The Philippine Pavilion at the 2025 Venice Biennale Reimagines the Relationship Between Architecture and Soil

Installation shots of the Philippine Pavilion exhibition Soil-beings (Lamánlupa) curated by Renan Laru-an featuring the work of Christian Tenefrancia Illi. Courtesy of the NCCA - PAVB. Photographs by . Image © Andrea D'Altoe

The Philippines' Pavilion at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia presents Soil-beings (Lamánlupa), an exhibition curated by artistic director Renan Laru-an. Through interdisciplinary collaborations, the Pavilion brings together architects, technical experts, indigenous leaders, artists, policymakers, and local communities to explore the cultural, ecological, and technological dimensions of soil. Its objective is to challenge conventional architectural paradigms by shifting the focus from structure to soil, not as a passive material, but as a living force with agency, history, and power.