html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" Grounded, organized by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (IKSV) and curated by Ceren Erdem and Bilge Kalfa, is on display at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale at the Türkiye Pavilion. The Grounded project, which translates the earth's natural adaptability into architectural expression, is showcased in the Türkiye Pavilion. It was inspired by the sensuous and cyclical nature of soil. Visitors are encouraged to reevaluate their relationship with nature and discover the depth and richness of the ground beneath their feet by curators Ceren Erdem and Bilge Kalfa. 10 solo and ten team participants' works are showcased in Grounded, along with a selection chosen through an open call.The official inauguration of the Türkiye Pavilion took place on Thursday, 8 May 2025, with the participation of curators Ceren Erdem and Bilge Kalfa, IKSV’s General Director Görgün Taner, and Deputy Director General Yeşim Gürer Oymak. By presenting soil as an ecosystem that possesses natural intelligence and acts as a living archive and supportive model, Grounded views soil as a repository of ecological and cultural memory. The display emphasizes the possibility of living with environment and how this frequently disregarded component offers important insights into historical civilizations and ecological systems.By combining cutting-edge research with conventional soil construction, the project makes room for an interdisciplinary approach that encourages thought-provoking conversations and values life above and below the soil equally in a world where it is frequently disregarded despite being the most important natural resource. The curators urge visitors to consider the hidden effects of industrial activity and unsustainable development, such as the destruction of cultural sites and biodiversity, through the multisensory exhibition that allows visitors to feel, smell, and interact with soil. Through the integration of technology and tradition, the project refocuses attention on livelihoods, climate change, and cyclical processes through architectural networks, fostering a revitalized sense of social, ecological, and historical awareness in addition to a revived sense of space."A living structure"The curators bring together works created in a variety of media, including academic studies, digital research methods, paintings, installations, and three-dimensional architectural construction. These individually and/or collaboratively created pieces encourage viewers to consider, rethink, and remake the idea of the ground and soil from a variety of angles. The show is a living structure in and of itself because some of the pieces are static while others change and develop.The project adds an additional layer of independent thought from the associated publication, which is also called Grounded. A multitude of authors from diverse fields reevaluate the curators' chosen themes from a variety of angles. The book contains the most in-depth descriptions and illustrations of the artworks and architectural endeavors in the show, as well as the curators' own autobiographical accounts that provide insights into the creation of Grounded. The book, edited by Melis Cankara, features contributions from Aytek Soner Alpan, Sevince Bayrak, Enise Burcu Derinboğaz, Ceren Erdem, Ömür Harmanşah, Bilge Kalfa, Burcu Serdar Köknar, Aslı Odman, Bülent Tanju, and Evren Uzer.The Turkish edition of the book, published in collaboration with YEM Publishing, is available in Türkiye at select bookstores and online. The English edition was published in collaboration with ListLab and can be obtained in bookstores at La Biennale di Venezia and through international distributors.The Türkiye Pavilion at Venice Architecture Biennale is commissioned by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (IKSV). The project for the Türkiye Pavilion at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition was decided through a two-stage evaluation and open call. From a selection of three finalists, the Selection Committee—which included Melike Altınışık, N. Müge Cengizkan, Prof. Dr. Zeynep Çelik, Oral Göktaş, and Dr. Sait Ali Köknar—selected Grounded, which was curated by Ceren Erdem and Bilge Kalfa, after evaluating 48 proposals.Project factsIndividual participants: Hüseyin Aksoy, Michael Akstaller, E. Füsun Alioğlu & Senem Akçay, Ali Mahmut Demirel, Sinem Dişli, Yelda Gin, Ali Miharbi, Özgül Öztürk, Serkan Taycan, Orkan TelhanParticipating teams: Atelier FY, Bire-Pan, Common Action Walls, Herkes İçin Mimarlık & Poçolana Works, Mono Earth, Ozruh, Rec II, ReYard House, Solidified, Yalın ArchitectsArchitectural research assistants: Enes Yılmaz, Simonida Galovic Curatorial assistant: Dicle Beştaş Exhibition design: Bilge Kalfa Architecture Graphic design: Paleworks (Ozan Akkoyun, Yağmur Ruzgar) Editor: Melis CankaraAll images © Fatih Yılmaz. > via IKSV