In Pictures: 7 Must-See Pavillons At The 2023 Venice Architecture Biennale

“Africa is a laboratory for the future” says Lesley Lokko, curator of the 18th Venice Architecture Biennale — “Africa is the future, it is an incredibly powerful place.” The writer and curator, currently setting up the Africa Futures Institute in Accra, has brought together 89 architecture and design contributions from countries including Uzbekistan, Ghana, Nigeria and Hungary for the latest iteration of the architecture Biennale, which opened to the public this weekend. For the first time in the history of the Venice Biennale, over half of the participants in the event are from Africa or the Africa diaspora. Here, we select the 7 best pavilions, tackling themes from problematic use of plastic to the need for free libraries in public spaces.

1 — Time and Chance, Serge Attukwei Clottey at the 2023 Venice Architecture Biennale.

2 — Dancing Before The Moon, Sandra Poulson at the 2023 Venice Architecture Biennale British Pavillon

3 — Ball Theatre, Muoto, Gilles Delalex and Yves Moreau, in partnership with Georgi Stanishev and Clémence La Sagna at the 2023 Venice Architecture Biennale French Pavillon

4 — Everlasting Plastics, SPACES Gallery at the 2023 Venice Architecture Biennale USA Pavillon

5 — Neighbors, Karin Sander and Philip Ursprung at the 2023 Venice Architecture Biennale Swiss Pavillon

6 — Joar Nango, The Sami Architecture Library at the 2023 Venice Architecture Biennale Nordic Countries Pavillon

7 — Counteract, Kere Architecture at the 2023 Venice Architecture Biennale