Andrea Faraguna

jury statement

★★
Switzerland /// Schweiz
★★

Heatwave, the publication accompanying the Pavilion of the Kingdom of Bahrain at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2024, mirrors the pavilion’s experimental approach. Addressing the global rise in temperatures, the pavilion presents a passive outdoor cooling installation for public spaces, highlighting architecture’s role in ecological resilience and social sustainability.

The book’s design is equally striking, composed of five stapled volumes nested together in a smart system to order and structure content. It is wrapped in a vibrant red glossy flap cover that gradually fades when exposed to light, creating an eye-catching transformation over time and symbolizing the ephemeral nature of climate change. The side exposed to sunlight loses its colour, while the reverse remains vivid. The text pages, printed on wood-containing paper, yellow with age, further emphasizing the book’s connection to environmental time and impact.

The publication contrasts matte and glossy papers to differentiate between textual and visual content. The matte pages feature essays and descriptions, providing a subdued backdrop, while the glossy pages showcase colour images, reflecting the fusion of traditional cooling techniques and modern engineering explored in the pavilion.

A bilingual layout, with English on the left and Arabic on the right, reinforces both cultural specificity and global accessibility. The catalogue’s modular format encourages interaction: each booklet can be removed and read independently, mimicking the pavilion’s adaptable, modular cooling structures. This thoughtful design transforms the catalogue into an experiential object that complements the pavilion’s approach to addressing extreme heat and ecological challenges.