MAD Architects Reimagines Tradition with the Chinese Paper Umbrella at the 19th Venice Architecture Biennale

A CONTEMPORARY INTERPRETATION OF HERITAGE

At the 19th Venice Architecture Biennale, MAD Architects presents the Chinese Paper Umbrella, an outdoor pavilion that unites traditional craftsmanship with environmental responsiveness. Installed within the gardens of the China Pavilion, the project embodies the exhibition’s theme “Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective.” by transforming the iconic Chinese oil-paper umbrella into an experiential architectural installation.

CRAFT, CLIMATE, AND THE LOGIC OF MATERIALS

The pavilion draws directly from ancient material intelligence. Its canopy is formed from Xuan paper, historically used for ink painting and calligraphy, enriched with multiple layers of tung oil to achieve water resistance while maintaining translucency. This carefully calibrated surface allows the structure to endure Venice’s fluctuating maritime climate and creates a shifting choreography of light, shadow, and texture across the pavilion.

A SENSORY INTERIOR ENVIRONMENT

Stepping beneath the canopy, visitors discover a noticeable change in atmosphere. Air flows gently through articulated seams, daylight is diffused into a soft ambient glow, and a perceptible cooling effect occurs, supported by a built-in misting system that activates during warm conditions. Integrated within the structure is OPPLE Lighting’s Smart Dynamic Light technology. This system continuously adjusts illumination levels according to real-time environmental data, enabling the pavilion to behave as a responsive, adaptive organism.

EMBRACING TIME AND TRANSFORMATION

A defining dimension of the project lies in its acceptance of material impermanence. As the paper canopy naturally ages, gradually yellowing and softening, it reveals a conceptual layer central to MAD’s architectural philosophy. The pavilion becomes a meditation on transformation: an acknowledgment that weathering is not a flaw but an integral part of the experience. The life cycle of the material is allowed to unfold openly, reinforcing the emotional and temporal qualities that MAD seeks to embed in its work.

TOWARD AN ARCHITECTURE THAT BREATHES

With the Chinese Paper Umbrella, MAD Architects proposes a model of architecture that is deeply adaptive yet emotionally grounded. By merging heritage craft, environmental intelligence, and contemporary technology, the pavilion operates as a living structure that moves, cools, and shifts with its surroundings. It stands as a vision of future architecture—one that breathes with the world rather than standing apart from it.

Project Credit

Name: China Pavilion at the 2025 Venice Biennale
Architecture Firm: MAD / @madarchitects

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