Biennale Architettura 2025: T-an, the Art of Utsushi

We are pleased to share that Assistant Prof Dr Simone Chung’s project, ‘T-an, the Art of Utsushi’, in collaboration with Tomohisa Miyauchi, Naoko Tamura, Kunimitsu Hata and Atsuko Mochida, has been selected for inclusion in the main pavilion at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition ‘Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective’ of La Biennale di Venezia, curated by Carlo Ratti. The exhibition will be open to the public from 10 May to 23 November 2025.

‘T-an, the Art of Utsushi’ reinterprets the traditional teahouse for a contemporary audience through Utsushi, a reproduction method in Japan that valorises timeless qualities—aesthetic harmony, mastery of material, and spiritual significance—while adapting to present-day conditions. By showcasing the material and spiritual dimensions of the humble teahouse structure on an intimate scale in Venice, the Utsushi installation demonstrates that long-standing designs can be reinterpreted and updated to suit contemporary conditions through open and inclusive engagement.

The Biennale Architettura is one of the most prestigious architecture exhibitions in the world, represented by invited participants from across the globe and over 60 participating countries. For more information, please visit https://www.labiennale.org/en/news/biennale-architettura-2025-intelligens-natural-artificial-collective