Timber-Tinged Contemporary Porch Graces US Pavilion at Venice Architecture Biennale

This year's pavilion for the US at the Venice Architecture Biennale examines porches as a symbol of American architectural heritage, featuring a zigzag pattern mass-timber a canopy creating an outdoor shelter beside its neoclassical structure.

Entitled "Porch: An Architecture of Generosity," the wooden canopy installation and exhibit within the current pavilion structure were curated by Susan Chin, Peter MacKeith, and Rod Bigelow.

Constructed using Austrian spruce, the wavy canopy extends across the entrance of the U-shaped US pavilion structure, creating a covered space, envisioned by American design firms. Marlon Blackwell Architects , Stephen Burks Man Made , DIRT and Ten X Ten .

Sitting at the forefront of the structure's entrance, the architects sought to craft a contemporary interpretation of classic American porches.

Chin explained to The News Pulse, “This canopy serves as a modern version of a porch.” He added,“There’s an interaction between this portico and the one from the initial US pavilion.”

An outdoor conversation area was created beside the U-shaped structure by elevating the ground beneath the awning using compacted earth blocks, covered with wooden planks atop them.

Inspired by classic American porches, the bottom side of the canopy was painted blue to resemble the sky and keep insects away — a design element that drew from styles seen in West Africa, as noted by MacKeith.

MacKeith contended that the porch stands as the quintessential element of American architectural design.

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MacKeith pointed out that some might view the United States as a country dominated by skyscrapers, or more broadly, as a land primarily composed of individual homes.

"As you observe all these homes and public buildings as well, it becomes clear that we are a country defined by porches, which have appeared consistently throughout American history," he went on to say.

If we consider ourselves a country of porches, we are indicating our desire to remain in this transitional area—being hospitable to others and venturing beyond our borders.

The mass timber construction was created with dismantling in mind. The materials will be repurposed by students at the The University of Arkansas’s Centre in Rome , who will develop plans to transform the pavilion into play areas and educational installations for schools in Italy.

"Every material will be repurposed and sent back into the world instead of ending up in a landfill," stated MacKeith, a professor at the University of Arkansas.

The school constantly focuses on recycling and reusing materials," he mentioned additionally. "This principle applies both to our educational methods and to the ethos of the biennale.

Within the pavilion structure, creations from 54 participants seek to demonstrate varied takes on the porch concept.

One piece stands out as a lofty wooden construction dubbed a "vertical porch" by MacKeith, situated beneath the central oculus of the pavilion building.

It features tilted walls encircling three seats, crafted by Urban Design Build Studio To prompt individuals to incline towards each other during discussion.

"We’re showcasing the finest examples of American architecture, design, and culture," stated Chin.

Other pavilions showcased at the Venice Architecture Biennale were included in The News Pulse coverage. a sports bar within the Netherlands exhibit and a see-through library by Diller Scofidio + Renfro .

The photography is by Tim Hursley .

The Venice Architecture Biennale occurs between 10 May and 23 November 2025. For all the recent details required to join the event, along with a compilation of other architectural and design happenings globally, check out The News Pulse Events Guide.

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