UAE pavilion names Dalia Hamati as curator for Venice Architecture Biennale 2027

Dalia Hamati has been chosen as the curator for the UAE's pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2027. The exhibition will focus on the UAE's relationship with water and how this could inform building practices in a warming climate. Hamati, an architect and assistant professor at the American University of Sharjah, was selected through an open call.

Her proposal integrates UAE history, atmospheric science, and environmental design. The exhibition, which will run from May 8 to November 21, 2027, at the UAE's permanent pavilion in the Arsenale's Sale d’Armi, will explore how water has shaped communities and how historical practices could inform future living with water in a changing climate.

Hamati emphasizes the importance of using local materials, as seen in traditional UAE structures like arish houses, wind towers, and closely situated buildings for shade. Her work has often examined the environmental impact of construction, and she has collaborated on projects that consider the lifecycle of materials, including a project in Gaza that used mycelium to create shelters.

Hamati's appointment continues the UAE's collaboration with Venice, following a successful joint exhibition in 2021. She is interested in exploring Venice's own hydrocultural history and its environmental challenges.