The National Pavilion of Saudi Arabia’s contribution to the Biennale Architettura 2023’s debate on the future of architecture through the concept of materiality.

This book invites readers to dive deeper into the captivating dialogue between materiality and imagination, as envisioned by IRTH (pronounced like "earth") at the 18th International Architecture Exhibition—La Biennale di Venezia.

Prepared for the Biennale Architettura 2023, for which the theme was “The Laboratory of the Future,” IRTH immerses visitors into the profound interplay between material and immaterial. It chronicles the National Pavilion of Saudi Arabia’s multi-faceted contribution to the discussion, in which the essence of earth as a material becomes a canvas for envisioning tomorrow’s architectural legacies.

In a curatorial journey told through essays from visionary architects, researchers, and experimental material alchemists, the book represents the multiple viewpoints and projects emerging from Saudi Arabia and its wider region. It delves into vernacular Saudi architecture, which, meticulously deconstructed and reimagined, forms the key point of reference for this journey.

As we navigate the universal challenges of belonging and legacy, this exhibition transcends geographical boundaries, seeking common ground in the tapestry of diverse identities and perspectives. Through the lens of materiality, the National Pavilion of Saudi Arabia compels us to answer collectively the problems of tomorrow, one narrative at a time.