The 19th Venice Architecture Biennale, running from May 10 to November 23, 2025, is showcasing the work of Swiss architect Lisbeth Sachs (1914-2002) within the Swiss Pavilion. The exhibition, titled "Final Form is Determined by the Architect on Site," is curated by the collective Annexe.
The exhibition explores the question: "What if Lisbeth Sachs, rather than Bruno Giacometti, had designed the Swiss Pavilion?" This inquiry led to the recreation of the ephemeral Kunsthalle Sachs created for the 1958 Swiss Exhibition of Women's Work (SAFFA) in Zurich. The curators aimed to revive this temporary artistic space to highlight the historical absence of female architects in the Biennale's Giardini.
Lisbeth Sachs, a pioneer among female architects in Switzerland, graduated from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich in 1939. Her architectural approach was inclusive and resource-conscious, viewing her role as a bridge between environmental conditions and the people involved in the project.
Annexe collaborated with Axelle Stiefel and Emma Kouassi to create a "fragmented and immersive spatial memory," including a sound installation that transformed the pavilion into a multi-sensory experience. This initiative aimed to highlight the importance of inclusivity in architectural history and challenge persistent gender inequalities in the profession.
The 19th Venice Architecture Biennale, organized by Carlo Ratti, has the theme "Intelligens," exploring natural, artificial, and collective intelligence to address climate challenges. The Swiss exhibition aligns with this dynamic by reinterpreting the biomorphic architecture of Lisbeth Sachs, a pioneer in her field, and emphasizing the importance of recognizing women in architectural history.