the national pavilion of the united arab emirates (UAE) has unveiled its contribution for the upcoming 2020 venice architecture biennale. curated by architects wael al awar and kenichi teramoto of waiwai, the exhibition will explore how the salt compounds found in the UAE’s sabkha (salt flats) could inspire alternative renewable building materials.

UAE's venice architecture biennale pavilion proposes equivalent of cement from crystalized salt
(above) image by dina al khatib courtesy of waiwai
(main) image by sahil abdul latheef courtesy of waiwai

 

 

titled wetland, the UAE’s national pavilion for the 2020 venice architecture biennale attempts to create a technological equivalent of portland cement from the crystalized salt and minerals that form from the country’s unique salt flats. ‘the cement industry accounts for 8% of all greenhouse gas emissions, in its production of concrete, which is the world’s second most highly-consumed material – so developing an alternative construction material without this high environmental impact is vital for shaping a sustainable future,’ comment curators wael al awar and kenichi teramoto, principal architects of waiwai design (formerly known as ibda design).

UAE's venice architecture biennale pavilion proposes equivalent of cement from crystalized salt
image by dina al khatib courtesy of waiwai

 

 

‘sabkha are among the UAE’s richest geological features, and their mineral makeup has the potential to create a renewable, natural building material that is equivalent in scale, cost and strength to portland cement. through the wetland exhibition project, we are experimenting with unlocking this potential through a process of scientific research,’ they continue.

UAE's venice architecture biennale pavilion proposes equivalent of cement from crystalized salt
image by dina al khatib courtesy of waiwai

 

 

curated by lebanese architect hisham sarkis, the 17th venice architecture biennale’s theme is how will we live together and it encourages curators to consider how architecture can address global challenges requiring coordinated action. the UAE’s national pavilion responds to sakis’s call for pavilions to look at architecture’s ability to engage people and communities across increasing social, economic, political and digital divides.

UAE's venice architecture biennale pavilion proposes equivalent of cement from crystalized salt
image by dina al khatib courtesy of waiwai

UAE's 2020 venice biennale pavilion proposes equivalent of cement from crystalized salt
image by dina al khatib courtesy of waiwai

UAE's 2020 venice biennale pavilion proposes equivalent of cement from crystalized salt
image by dina al khatib courtesy of waiwai

UAE's 2020 venice biennale pavilion proposes equivalent of cement from crystalized salt
image by dina al khatib courtesy of waiwai

UAE's 2020 venice biennale pavilion proposes equivalent of cement from crystalized salt
image by sahil abdul latheef courtesy of waiwai

UAE's 2020 venice biennale pavilion proposes equivalent of cement from crystalized salt
image by sahil abdul latheef courtesy of waiwai

 

 

project info:

 

name: wetland – UAE national pavilion venice architecture biennale

curators: wael al awar and kenichi teramoto 

commissioned by: salama bint hamdan al nahyan foundation

supported by: ministry of culture and knowledge development