Uzbekistan’s modernist revival: ‘A Matter of Radiance’ at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2025

Uzbekistan presents its modernist architectural legacy at the Venice Biennale, with a focus on one of the world’s largest solar furnaces and the future of sustainable design.

At the Venice Architecture Biennale 2025, Uzbekistan’s pavilion celebrates the Sun Institute of Material Science, a 1987 solar furnace built for military and aerospace research. Designed by Grace Studio, the exhibition explores the site's scientific and architectural legacy through fragmented displays. Artists like Ester Sheynfeld highlight the everyday life of researchers at the Tashkent complex.  The pavilion also reflects Uzbekistan’s broader effort to document and protect 21 modernist buildings. The solar facility is now listed for UNESCO heritage status and seen as a symbol of sustainable relevance in a changing world.