The inaugural Oman Pavilion at the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale, curated by Majeda Alhinai, explores the relevance of traditional communal spaces, specifically the Sablah, in contemporary settings. Titled "Traces," the exhibition highlights how architectural design can integrate values of togetherness, adaptability, and memory. The pavilion’s unique structure, made of folded aluminum and palm frond benches, serves as both a host and a threshold, promoting informal interactions. The incorporation of a directional sound installation enhances the immersive experience by capturing daily life sounds, demonstrating a blend of heritage and modernity.
A sinuous form anchors the exhibition, shaped from bands of folded raw aluminium stitched together into a silhouette that ambiguously presents itself as a host and a threshold while remaining uncontained by fixed boundaries.
Our intention was not simply to showcase heritage, but to explore how architecture can embody values of togetherness, adaptability, and memory,
This ambiguity of form and function reflects the Sablah's informality. Frequently seen throughout Oman's rural villages and urban settings, from intimate interiors to shaded public spaces outdoors.
Majeda Alhinai, the curator, emphasizes that the pavilion aims to create an adaptable site that encourages informal encounters and invites new modes of shared use.
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