The Beyti Beytak exhibition highlights the role of MENASA architects in global architecture, focusing on their designs that reflect shared values of hospitality, community, and belonging.
Qatar Pavilion at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia has announced that Beyti Beytak ‘My Home is Your Home’, explores how the architecture and urban landscapes of the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia (MENASA) embody themes of hospitality.
The exhibition, which will run from May 10 to November 23, 2025, examines how modern and contemporary architecture not only meets the practical needs of communities but also reimagines a sense of belonging.
The exhibition is produced by Qatar Museums and organized by the future Art Mill Museum. It will be hosted at the Giardini della Biennale and the ACP-Palazzo Franchetti, marking Qatar’s first official participation in the Biennale. The presentation at ACP-Palazzo Franchetti is supported by ACP Art Capital Partners.
Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani, Commissioner of the Qatar Pavilion and Chairperson of Qatar Museums, stated, “The exhibition highlights Qatar Museums’ commitment to amplifying the voices of leading modern and contemporary creatives from the Arab world and surrounding regions”.
She added that it celebrates the contributions of MENASA architects to global architecture while reflecting “our shared values of hospitality, community, and belonging”.
This exhibition underscores Qatar’s role in advancing cultural diplomacy and deepening the understanding of our diverse architectural heritage.
One of the key installations at the Giardini della Biennale will be Pakistani architect Yasmeen Lari’s Community Centre (2024). This installation, which will also feature as part of the landmark MANZAR exhibition at the National Museum of Qatar, is a humanitarian and architectural development model that uses bamboo as the primary material.
The temporary structure, designed for social, cultural, and architectural development, highlights the adaptability of bamboo and its potential to support community-building efforts in disaster-stricken regions.
Lari’s Heritage Foundation of Pakistan, which she co-founded in 1980, continues to provide shelters and villages for those impacted by natural disasters.
The Community Centre includes a perimeter veranda and a dome topped with a waterproof palm frond roof.
Throughout the Biennale, the Centre will also host events focused on traditional Qatari hospitality practices, such as the serving of coffee and dates.
At ACP-Palazzo Franchetti, Beyti Beytak will feature the work of more than 30 architects, some of whom will be presenting their work in Venice for the first time.
The exhibition spans three generations of architects who have worked in the MENASA region.
It showcases a wide range of media, including drawings, photographs, models, and archival documentation.
The exhibition is organised into thematic sections focusing on the reinvention of the oasis, city housing, community centres, mosques, museums, and gardens.
A particular emphasis is placed on Doha’s architecture, with restored doors from the old city featured, thanks to the Aga Khan Trust for Culture.
The exhibition will highlight pioneering modern architects and it will also reflect on the legacy of Egyptian architect Hassan Fathy, whose work championed social engagement and the use of vernacular forms, techniques, and materials.
The exhibition is curated by Aurélien Lemonier, Art Mill Museum Curator of Architecture, Design, and Gardens, and Sean Anderson, Associate Professor at Cornell University, with assistance from Virgile Alexandre. It is designed by the architectural duo Cookies (Federico Martelli and Clément Périssé)
Aurélien Lemonier said, “Conceived as a multidisciplinary institution devoted to art in all forms since 1850, the future Art Mill Museum will include architecture, design, and landscape architecture as core elements of its collections and programmes. Beyti Beytak is a testament to the richness of the MENASA region’s architectural heritage and highlights the diversity and creativity of designers and architects from the Arab world and the Global South.”
Sean Anderson added, “Community and belonging are expressions that inform hospitality throughout the world today. As we witness the planet’s transformations, mirrored by technology’s drive toward a more collective yet divided future, Beyti Beytak responds to how architects and designers have imagined how we gather, where we reflect, and what we feel with and for each other.”
The exhibition’s design will complement the historic architecture of the Palazzo Franchetti, creating immersive, interactive installations that engage with the building’s spaces and enhance the experience of viewing the architectural works on display. The specially designed structures will offer new perspectives on the creative process behind the exhibited works.
