Wang Shu & Lu Wenyu to Curate 2027 Venice Architecture Biennale: Craft, Material Memory, and Place-Based Design

Wang Shu and Lu Wenyu’s appointment to curate the 2027 Venice Architecture Biennale marks a rare moment when two architects known for their deep commitment to material memory, place-based design, and traditional craft step onto one of architecture’s most visible international stages. The 20th edition of the exhibition, scheduled to run from May 8 through November 21, 2027, arrives at a time when the profession is rethinking what progress means and how local identity can coexist with global pressures. Their leadership promises an edition shaped by grounded ideas, human-scale thinking, and a renewed appreciation for the cultural knowledge embedded in materials and construction techniques.

Wang Shu and Lu Wenyu bring with them an international reputation built through teaching, practice, and their long-standing ties to the China Academy of Art. As founders of Amateur Architecture Studio, they have carved out a distinctive place in the global landscape by challenging assumptions about modernity and progress. Their buildings often draw from local construction traditions and recycled materials, weaving together regional memory, cultural continuity, and experimentation. Wang Shu’s recognition as a Pritzker Prize laureate helped introduce their ethos to a wider audience, but both partners have shaped a philosophy that resists standardization and foregrounds the value of craft. Rather than celebrating speed or spectacle, their work looks to processes, labor, and the stories held within materials.

Their selection as curators aligns naturally with the themes that have been evolving across recent editions of the Biennale. Over the last decade, topics like sustainability, reuse, cultural resilience, and localized approaches to design have taken center stage. Wang and Lu’s portfolio speaks directly to these concerns. They have consistently championed construction methods that respect regional ecosystems, prioritize the reuse of existing materials, and encourage a close reading of context. Their projects often serve as counterpoints to highly digital or speculative approaches, offering instead a viewpoint that blends innovation with memory. This emphasis positions them as ideal stewards for an exhibition that will inevitably grapple with the environmental and cultural pressures shaping architecture today.

Visitors to the 2027 Biennale can expect an edition that embraces both the physical and emotional dimensions of architecture. The primary venues—the Giardini, Arsenale, and numerous collateral locations throughout Venice—are likely to host installations and pavilions that explore material identity, community-scale engagement, and new interpretations of craft. The duration of the exhibition, spanning late spring to late fall, allows for expansive programming and seasonal variation in attendance. Although the final theme has not yet been announced, the curators’ past work suggests that topics such as vernacular knowledge, recycled materials, and the tension between local and global design cultures may form central threads.

Their curatorial vision may also prompt greater visibility for practices that prioritize community involvement or manual experimentation. Rather than focusing solely on large-scale architectural statements, this Biennale could highlight processes that unfold over time, craftsmanship that carries historical resonance, and design rooted in lived experience. Their leadership opens the door for smaller studios, academics, students, and regional practitioners who work closely with their environments to share the stage with larger firms. It may also bring more attention to Asian architectural narratives, especially those engaging with heritage, reconstruction, and ecological stewardship.

For architects and educators, this Biennale will likely become an important reference point. Many designers working with materials, craft, and memory-driven methods will find resonance in the themes likely to emerge. Academic institutions may build complementary programs, workshops, or research collaborations inspired by the curators’ approach. With increasing interest in sustainable construction and adaptive reuse, the exhibition may serve as a catalyst for new conversations about how architectural education prepares future practitioners.

Visitors planning to attend the exhibition can anticipate an edition shaped by careful storytelling and atmospheric installations. Whether through hands-on material demonstrations, spatial narratives, or reinterpretations of historic techniques, the experience may feel more tactile and grounded than in years dominated by digital futurism. For those following from afar, the Biennale’s selection of curators offers an early indication of a more reflective edition—one that encourages reflection on how buildings connect to memory, place, and community.

Wang Shu and Lu Wenyu’s appointment also signals a broader shift in architectural discourse. Their work challenges the assumption that progress requires abandoning traditional methods. Instead, they show how contemporary design can emerge from cultural memory, material history, and a deep awareness of local environments. This shift mirrors a global movement toward more responsible, regionally grounded practice, offering an alternative to highly globalized or technologically driven architectural narratives.

Ahead of 2027, audiences may want to revisit some of Amateur Architecture Studio’s most influential projects. The Ningbo Historic Museum remains a landmark example of how repurposed stone and salvaged materials can form new architectural expression while honoring regional history. The Fuyang Cultural Complex furthers their exploration of craft, materiality, and cultural narrative. The Xiangshan Campus at the China Academy of Art continues to serve as an important reference for experimental, craft-based educational spaces. Together, these works provide essential context for understanding the curators’ perspective.

As planning begins, prospective visitors and participants can expect updates on registration timelines, ticketing, and opportunities to apply for exhibitions or collateral events. Designers, institutions, and organizations often prepare proposals well in advance, making now an ideal time for studios and researchers interested in participating to begin refining their ideas. Media and press outlets typically open accreditation windows months before the exhibition launch, offering additional pathways for engagement.

The 2027 Venice Architecture Biennale stands poised to become a meaningful reflection on how architecture can honor memory while moving forward. With Wang Shu and Lu Wenyu at the helm, the exhibition is set to foreground craftsmanship, material identity, and the cultural narratives that buildings carry across generations. Their leadership promises an edition rich with thought-provoking work, grounded perspectives, and renewed attention to the knowledge embedded within local traditions. As anticipation builds, this moment invites architects, students, and audiences around the world to follow their evolving vision and prepare for a Biennale shaped by depth, reflection, and a profound sense of place.