Ireland's national pavilion at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia 2025 presents "Assembly," an ambitious architectural installation that explores how physical spaces can facilitate gathering, democratic dialogue, and meaningful exchange between strangers. Curated by Cotter & Naessens Architects and commissioned by Culture Ireland in partnership with the Arts Council of Ireland, the pavilion was officially inaugurated by renowned architect Yvonne Farrell of Grafton Architects, alongside Sharon Barry, Director of Culture Ireland, and Fionnuala Sweeney, Head of Architecture at the Arts Council.
At the heart of the Assembly installation lies a comprehensive investigation into how architectural design can enable collective participation and democratic engagement. Drawing inspiration from Ireland's groundbreaking Citizens' Assembly—an innovative form of participatory democracy established in 2016 to bring ordinary citizens closer to the governance process—Cotter & Naessens have envisioned an environment where architecture serves simultaneously as both a stage and structural framework for meaningful discourse. This approach stands in stark contrast to the fast-paced, algorithmically mediated flow of information that characterizes much of contemporary digital life, instead emphasizing slower, more deliberate processes of reflection and consensus-building that mirror the Citizens' Assembly model.
Building upon this democratic framework, Assembly fundamentally challenges traditional spatial hierarchies by proposing an innovative prototype for gathering that prioritizes inclusivity, fluidity, and genuine human interaction. The installation presents a speculative prototype for a structure specifically designed to facilitate non-hierarchical communication between strangers, with its concept and form drawing inspiration from diverse spatial typologies of political and social assembly from Ireland and beyond. These influences include choir stalls, parliamentary chambers, and cattle marts—each representing different models of collective gathering and exchange.
The design itself is notably circular, modular, and deliberately small in scale, characteristics that give it remarkable potential to transform a wide range of publicly accessible spaces into sites of civic participation. From schools and libraries to shopping malls and community centers, the prototype demonstrates how democratic engagement can be fostered in everyday environments where people naturally gather.
The installation represents the culmination of an extraordinary interdisciplinary collaboration between Cotter & Naessens Architects, sound artist David Stalling, architect and poet Michelle Delea, curator Luke Naessens, and master woodworker Alan Meredith. By integrating spatial design with carefully crafted sound elements and poetic text, Assembly creates a truly multisensory experience where the act of congregation is both reflected upon and actively enacted within the space itself. Visitors become immersed in an environment where architectural elements, acoustics, and spoken word converge to highlight the critical significance of public dialogue in contemporary society.
The pavilion's construction reflects a deep commitment to sustainable practices and traditional craftsmanship. The structure has been meticulously hand-crafted from Irish beech trees, utilizing age-old, renewable materials and traditional woodworking skills that represent collaborative knowledge passed down through generations. The installation features a handwoven carpet created by Ceadogán Rugmakers that welcomes visitors into the interior space, adding another layer of Irish craftsmanship to the overall experience.
A particularly innovative aspect of Assembly is its sophisticated audio component, which consists of a chorus of integrated soundboxes positioned throughout the structure. Each soundbox delivers a carefully orchestrated fragment of a spatialized, polyphonic composition inspired by the Venetian tradition of cori spezzati—a Renaissance-era musical technique that involved placing choirs in different locations within a space to create immersive, three-dimensional sound experiences. The audio work, created through collaboration between Michelle Delea and David Stalling, combines original music, poetry, in-depth interviews with both the designers and participants of Ireland's Citizens' Assembly, and field recordings that document the entire fabrication process of the structure itself.
Beyond serving as a static exhibition piece, Assembly functions as a dynamic platform for an extensive program of activations, discussions, and performances throughout the duration of the Venice Architecture Biennale. The curators have designed the space to be constantly evolving, providing opportunities for guests, local and international participants, and members of the general public to engage in ongoing conversations about democracy, civic engagement, and the role of architecture in shaping society. This programming extends and amplifies the core themes of the installation, addressing pressing contemporary issues including the design of civic spaces, strategies for community engagement, and architecture's fundamental role in creating and maintaining democratic environments.
The Irish pavilion's Assembly project represents a thoughtful and highly ambitious contribution to the Venice Architecture Biennale, effectively positioning Irish architectural innovation within the broader global discourse on space, democracy, and civic participation. The installation demonstrates how traditional craftsmanship, innovative design thinking, and democratic ideals can be seamlessly integrated to create spaces that foster genuine human connection and meaningful dialogue in an increasingly fragmented world.
