The 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia features "Song of the Cricket," an exhibit focused on ecological conservation and interactive sound art.
Researchers from the University of Melbourne are leading the project, which aims to revive the Adriatic Marbled Bush-Cricket population in the Venice lagoon.
The project involves collecting, breeding, and relocating the endangered crickets, whose habitat has been reduced to a small area. The exhibit includes floating, mobile habitats designed to house the crickets and offer an immersive audio experience.
The interactive sound garden and cricket choir, designed by Associate Professor Miriama Young, recreates the natural sounds of Venice's wetlands. This initiative highlights the importance of architecture and design in reviving ecosystems and cultural soundscapes.
Other sustainability-focused pavilions at the Biennale include Australia's "HOME," showcasing Indigenous environmental knowledge, and Seoul's call for coexistence with nature in urban planning.