Small sectional sofas (which are a thing, trust us) are just the right seating solution for those with cramped spaces who recognize that it’s not humanly possible to get cozy on a loveseat. “A sectional can give you that maxed-out seating and help the room feel like a cozy nook, not a cramped back office,” says designer Caroline Burke of Anna Burke Interiors.Though sectionals in all their long configurations can feel counterintuitive for small spaces, designer Ashley Darryl says the opposite is often true. “Sometimes using several small pieces can make a room feel cluttered,” says of the sofa-chair-table cluster that’s become de rigueur in living rooms. Whether your goal is to fit the whole family for movie night or just successfully stretch out completely solo, the right-size sectional can transform a cramped room in unexpected ways.“Typically, sectionals can double your seating,” notes AD100 interior designer Victoria Hagan, and author of Live Now. Burke agrees, adding that choosing a piece with a low back and arms can “help a small room not feel engulfed by a piece of furniture.”To help with your seating journey, we pulled together our favorite sectionals for small spaces—from bouclé beauties to rawhide leather configurations. Read up on some common seating FAQs below, answered by designers, as well.Our Top Picks for the Best Small Sectional SofasBest Leather Option: Castlery Jonathan Leather Side Chaise Sofa, $4,547Best Upholstered Sofa: Vesgantti Modular Sectional Sofa, $700 $550Best Sleeper Sofa: Pottery Barn Shasta Reversible Chaise Sleeper Sectional, $2,599For Sculptural Seating: AllModern Anson Modular Sectional, $3,098 $2,673For Iconic Design: Herman Miller Luva Modular Sectional, $8,430For a Modular Arrangement: Burrow Range 3-Piece Sectional Lounger, $1299 $979In This ArticleBest Leather OptionCastlery Jonathan Leather Side Chaise SectionalSpecsDimensions: 27.6"H x 84.3"W x 94.1"D (long side) and 39.4"D (short side)Seat Depth: 24.4"Materials: Top grain leather, veneer lumber, and plywoodCare: Wipe clean with dry clothAD commerce director Rachel Fletcher has adored this modular sectional since 2022, reviewing it as “modern, minimalist, and tasteful,” pet-friendly, and a powerful design moment for your living room. This modular sectional includes a versatile chaise lounge so you can expand your sectional or split it up when you move.Best Budget SofaWade Logan Fultonham 6-Piece Upholstered SectionalSpecsDimensions: 27.6"H x 84.3"W x 94.1"D (long side) and 39.4"D (short side)Seat Depth: 24.4"Materials: Top grain leather, veneer lumber, and plywoodCare: Wipe clean with dry clothOkay, yes, six pieces seem like a lot for a small sectional sofa. But keep in mind that you can mix-and-match elements, turning some into cozy reading chairs and connecting others into larger lounge spaces. We love the taller back cushions on this blocky option which ensure that you aren’t slouching your way through your next movie marathon.Best Upholstered SofaVesgantti Modular Sectional SofaSpecsDimensions: 60"D x 108"W x 35.5"HSeat Depth: 26"Materials: Wood, foam fill, chenille upholsteryCare: Wipe clean with dry clothReviews of this Amazon sectional tout the benefits of durable-feeling upholstery and easy assembly. Sure, 108 inches may seem large for small spaces, but that’s only if you format this sofa as a three-seater. A modular makeup ensures that you can move each piece around to best suit your living room. As an added bonus, this sofa comes ready with two sets of legs at varying heights, so you can decide how low to the ground you want to be.For Sculptural SeatingAllModern Anson Modular SectionalSpecsDimensions: 32.5''H x 100.75''W x 61.25''DSeat Depth: Not listedMaterials: Wood, foam, synthetic fiber fill, polyester upholsteryCare: Spot clean with dry, solvent-based cleanerWith a curved, high back that draws you in like a hug, and slim lumbar pillows for added back support, All Modern’s Anson sectional takes the best elements of sculptural furniture and makes them compatible with small space living. Available in three upholstery colors and the option of chaise sides, this sectional sofa is an ideal happy medium between sink-in cozy texture and statement-worthy design.Best Sleeper SofaPottery Barn Shasta Reversible Chaise Sleeper SectionalSpecsDimensions: 83.5"W x 59"D x 35"HSeat Depth: 29.5"Materials: Solid rubberwood frame, polyester-wrapped cushions, innerspring mattress,Care: Blot spills immediately with a clean, colorfast towel or sponge, vacuum cushions regularlyHosting guests in a small space requires some compromise, but any consummate host knows that good hospitality doesn’t come in the form of a saggy air mattress. Instead, this sleek sofa folds out into a queen-sized bed, accommodating your guests comfortably without taking up too much additional space. All-white can be dicey for any highly trafficked piece of furniture, but the sofa also comes in a range of hardier fabrics like basketweave, tweed, and velvet in all sorts of rich colors. Buyers even have the option to add storage in the chaise.Best Velvet OptionArticle Abisko Velvet SectionalSpecsDimensions: 28"H x 94.5"W x 63.5"DSeat Depth: 25"Materials: Frame: kiln-dried solid larch, plywood, brushed aluminum; Filling: high-density foam, polyester fiber; Fabric: 100% polyesterCare: Blot stains with a dry clothThe best-selling Sven sectional from Article is made even more beautiful by colorful, performance velvet upholstery. Suitable for those with little ones and pets running around, the fabric is non-absorptive, meaning spills and crumbs won’t stay embedded in its weave. Two orientations—chaise and L-shaped—allow you to Tetris its silhouette into your space as you see fit.For Cloudlike UpholsteryWest Elm Harmony Modular Chaise SectionalSpecsDimensions: 86"W x 62"D x 37"HSeat Depth: 23"Materials: Engineered hardwood frame, fiber-wrapped high-density polyurethane foam, high-gauge sinuous springs, upholstery (linen, basketweave, velvet, chenille, and twill options)Care: Blot spills immediately with a clean, colorfast towel; spot clean with a damp cloth or spongeWith a seat depth of 23 inches, this is the ideal small sectional for sinking in and getting cozy. A multitude of pillows allows for added comfort, while the chaise seat lets at least one person on the end stretch their legs out. Rather than simply make this sofa smaller or more narrow, the entire size has also been scaled down to look proportional without sacrificing style in smaller living rooms.For a Thoroughly Modern SilhouetteDesign Within Reach Pastille Sectional ChaiseSpecsDimensions: 57"D x 80"W x 32"HSeat Depth: 23"Materials: Steel-reinforced plywood frame, high-density, high-resiliency foam cushions, memory foam toppers, fabric or leather upholsteryCare: Spot cleanThe Pastille Sectional with an included chaise is an appropriate ode to the British candy, combining clean lines with cheerful colorways. Designed by Hlynur Atlason, this lounge sofa features a low seat (approximately 18 inches high), for not only cramped quarters, but low-ceilinged ones, too. And thanks to the lightness of the design, this sofa will also never look too heavy or oversized for your living room.For an Artpiece SofaHerman Miller Luva Modular SectionalSpecsDimensions: 61.5"D x 78.25"W x 40.75"HSeat Depth: 51.5"Materials: Steel frame, layered foam, fabric or leather upholsteryCare: Spot cleanSmall in stature but never short on personality, the Luva modular sectional has a squishy texture and a cartoonish shape. Available in a two and three seater configuration and countless upholstery options (like this Kindercore yellow), this versatile 78-inch sectional would feel right at home in a basement or a reading corner in need of some verve. It’s certainly a splurge, but for the iconic Herman Miller name, plus full assembly included in the price tag, it’s an investment that we imagine will hold up nicely over time.For a Modular ArrangementBurrow Range 3-Piece Sectional LoungerSpecsDimensions: 28"H x 62"W x 60.5"DSeat Depth: 21"Materials: Bent plywood frame, medium-density foam, shredded fill, fiber wadding, basketweave or velvet upholsteryCare: Water and bleach solutionInstead of opting for a giant L-shaped sectional that will take up the entire room, aim for something with a smaller footprint. Available in performance fabric and three leg finishes, this sectional couch is ideal for a tiny living space and a major upgrade from a smaller loveseat thanks to the chaise addition. While not an official fold-out sleeper sofa, the back cushions flop back to give you enough space should you be inclined to nap. Contributor David Kaufman, who tested it out for us, calls it “a great starter sofa for a first home or apartment that you won’t have to send to a landfill when you’re ready to move.”For Some TextureUrban Outfitters Macy Modular SofaSpecsDimensions: 30"H x 40"W x 40"DSeat Depth: Not listedMaterials: Polyester, plywood, pine woodCare: Spot cleanThis one is like a “choose your own adventure” in sofa form. Buy each piece separately to create the perfect sectional for your space. Corner chairs, seats with arms, seats without arms, an ottoman—you’ve got options. The ribbed corduroy is a throwback to college-dorm days (but in a good way).For Low-to-the-Ground LeatherArticle Cigar Rawhide Tan Reversible SectionalSpecsDimensions: 26"H x 92"W x 94"DSeat Depth: 27"Materials: Frame: kiln-dried solid pine, MDF, rubberwood; Filling: high-density foam, polyester fiber, duck feathers; Leather: 100% top grain, full-aniline Italian pull-up leatherCare: Wipe with a damp clothThe reversible chaise makes this sectional super versatile—meaning there’s a good chance it’ll fit right into your next space too. Low profile in silhouette and minimalist in style, the smooth leather texture carries this design’s personality while keeping things sturdy for movie nights. And while it may not be a sofa bed, don’t let anyone dissuade you from a full night’s snooze.Best sectionals for small spaces FAQs:What features should I look for in a sectional for small living rooms?Modular furniture—any sectional that comes in several parts so you can adjust your sofa to suit the configurations—is built with flexibility in mind, making it the ideal contender for a small living space. We have tested and loved Castlery modular sofas, but a search for modular sectional should give you plenty of other options. A room tight on space can benefit from couches with storage, like those from Albany Park. Now you’ll be able to minimize the clutter and extra blankets by stowing them underneath your seat.How do I arrange a sectional in a small space?Don’t fall for the tiniest sectional you can find, but rather invest in something well-made—it plays a big part in your living room, after all. While it may seem counterintuitive, Nashville interior designer Amanda Khouri says, “Filling a small room with small furniture can make it feel…well, smaller.”Designer Alicia Murphy used a sectional in the living room of a teensy trailer she converted into a plush family getaway in Montauk, New York, for this very reason: “If you use a corner sectional rather than a sofa and chair, you most likely will add seating for two or three more people,” Murphy explains, noting that the alternative prevents you from having about 36 inches of dead space in the corner.”

Enders Analysis Amazon Fire Sticks enable “billions of dollars” worth of streaming piracy Research firm blames outdated DRM tech, Facebook ads, Amazon hardware, and more. Scharon Harding – May 30, 2025 5:18 pm | 114 An Amazon Fire Stick and remote. Credit: Amazon An Amazon Fire Stick and remote. Credit: Amazon Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only   Learn more Amazon Fire Sticks are enabling “billions of dollars” worth of streaming piracy, according to a report today from Enders Analysis, a media, entertainment, and telecommunications research firm. Technologies from other media conglomerates, Microsoft, Google, and Facebook, are also enabling what the report’s authors deem an “industrial scale of theft." The report, "Video piracy: Big tech is clearly unwilling to address the problem," focuses on the European market but highlights the global growth of piracy of streaming services as they increasingly acquire rights to live programs, like sporting events. Per the BBC, the report points to the availability of multiple, simultaneous illegal streams for big events that draw tens of thousands of pirate viewers. Enders' report places some blame on Facebook for showing advertisements for access to illegal streams, as well as Google and Microsoft for the alleged “continued depreciation” of their digital rights management (DRM) systems, Widevine and PlayReady, respectively. Ars Technica reached out to Facebook, Google, and Microsoft for comment but didn’t receive a response before publication. The report echoes complaints shared throughout the industry, including by the world’s largest European soccer streamer, DAZN. Streaming piracy is “almost a crisis for the sports rights industry,” DAZN’s head of global rights, Tom Burrows, said at The Financial Times’ Business of Football Summit in February. At the same event, Nick Herm, COO of Comcast-owned European telecommunication firm Sky Group, estimated that piracy was costing his company “hundreds of millions of dollars” in revenue. At the time, Enders co-founder Claire Enders said that the pirating of sporting events accounts for “about 50 percent of most markets.” Jailbroken Fire Sticks Friday's Enders report named Fire Sticks as a significant contributor to streaming piracy, calling the hardware a “piracy enabler.” Enders’ report pointed to security risks that pirate viewers face, including providing credit card information and email addresses to unknown entities, which can make people vulnerable to phishing and malware. However, reports of phishing and malware stemming from streaming piracy, which occurs through various methods besides a Fire TV Stick, seem to be rather limited. Still, at the February Financial Times event, Herm said that Fire Sticks account “for about half of the piracy in the UK.” “People think that because it’s a legitimate brand, it must be OK. So they give their credit card details to criminal gangs. Amazon is not engaging with us as much as we’d like," he said. In the UK, there has been a push to crack down on illegal usage of Fire Sticks. For example, in November 2024, a man received a three-year, four-month sentence for hacking Fire Sticks. In June 2024, another man got a two-year suspended sentence after a police raid found jailbroken Fire Sticks in his home. In the US, however, there aren’t nearly as many publicized efforts to combat illegal streaming on Amazon devices. While Enders’ report accuses Amazon of contributing to the piracy problem, as the owner of its own streaming service, Prime Video, Amazon has an incentive to fight piracy. Amazon’s streaming business includes selling streaming hardware, but the business is more centered on getting people to sign up for Amazon services (like Prime Video), data collection, and ad sales. When reached for comment, an Amazon spokesperson told Ars Technica: Pirated content violates our policies regarding intellectual property rights and compromises the security and privacy of our customers. We work with industry partners and relevant authorities to combat piracy and protect customers from the risks associated with pirated content. Our Appstore prohibits apps that infringe upon the rights of third parties, and we warn customers of the risks associated with installing or using apps from unknown sources. Amazon’s representative also told Ars that Amazon works with industry partners to break up piracy networks and has assisted law enforcement efforts, including the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit in London and UK IP Crime Group. DRM limitations Enders’ report also blamed poorly updated DRM systems, especially from Google and Microsoft, for contributing to streaming piracy. Google’s Widevine and Microsoft’s PlayReady "are now compromised across various security levels,” the report said, pointing to a lack of upkeep. Microsoft issued its most recent big update to PlayReady, version 4.6, in December 2022. The report authors wrote: Over twenty years since launch, the DRM solutions provided by Google and Microsoft are in steep decline. A complete overhaul of the technology architecture, licensing, and support model is needed. Lack of engagement with content owners indicates this a low priority. Outside of Enders' report, Google was criticized by the Italian government earlier this year for allegedly failing to block pirate websites identified by Italy’s communication regulator, AGCOM. In March, the Court of Milan ordered Google to poison its public DNS servers with the goal of blocking illegal soccer streams. And beyond the aforementioned tech giants, earlier this month, France ordered five VPN providers (NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, Proton VPN, and CyberGhost) to block illegal sports streaming sites. Unsurprisingly, the move has been slammed by VPN providers as setting “a dangerous precedent," per i2Coalition, an Internet infrastructure trade association that manages the international VPN Trust Initiative consortium of VPN providers. A growing problem As the Internet solidifies its position as the primary method for watching shows, movies, and, increasingly, live events, it presents new challenges to content distributors and owners seeking to curb online piracy. In the case of sports, especially, the distribution of sports rights across various linear networks and streaming services often means signing up for multiple services in order to watch a single team’s season. For some fans—including NFL players themselves—that's financially and/or logistically impractical. Simultaneously, anti-piracy advocates argue that piracy could lead to higher subscription fees for streaming services. As legislation and rights holders become more stringent about piracy, we can expect more effort from tech providers and law enforcement to block piracy, while hackers also seek new ways to enable illegal streams. Scharon Harding Senior Technology Reporter Scharon Harding Senior Technology Reporter Scharon is a Senior Technology Reporter at Ars Technica writing news, reviews, and analysis on consumer gadgets and services. She's been reporting on technology for over 10 years, with bylines at Tom’s Hardware, Channelnomics, and CRN UK. 114 Comments

A floating pavilion square in plan, topped by a parabolic waffle slab held up with pilotis, will soon debut in Italy at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia before traveling to Belém, Brazil, for COP30, the UN’s annual climate conference. AquaPraça, a collaboration between Höweler & Yoon and Carlo Ratti Associati, is conceived as a gathering space for global climate dialogue. In Italy, AquaPraça will accompany programming at the Italian Pavilion. It will be transported later this year across the Atlantic Ocean to the coast of Brazil, where world leaders, climate activists, and architects will convene in November at COP30. The pavilion will have capacity for 150 people. (Courtesy CRA/Höweler & Yoon) A water feature in the center of the pavilion was informed by Archimedes’ principle. (Courtesy CRA/Höweler & Yoon) A rectangular tub, in the center of the pavilion, filled with water helps with buoyancy—a design decision informed by Archimedes’ principle, a law of physics fundamental to fluid mechanics. Carlo Ratti said AquaPraça is likewise rooted in architectural history. “In 1979, Aldo Rossi launched the Teatro del Mondo at the first Biennale Architettura, positing that architecture could engage with the past,” Ratti said in a statement. “Today, AquaPraça shows how architecture can engage with the future—by responding to climate and engaging with nature rather than resisting it.” Höweler & Yoon previously designed a similar concept, dubbed Float Lab, set to open on the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia in 2026. Like Float Lab, AquaPraça visitors will bear witness to dynamic fluctuations of sea level rise at eye level, added Eric Höweler. The 4,000-square-foot ensemble coming to Brazil will have capacity for hosting 150 people for exhibitions, workshops, symposia, and cultural events. AquaPraça’s “sloping surfaces and shifting levels embody a delicate equilibrium,” Höweler said. “It’s a platform, both literal and figurative, for deepening our collective understanding and experience of sea level rise and the impacts of climate change on global cities and communities and seeking collective solutions,” elaborated J. Meejin Yoon.  The floating pavilion is currently under construction in northern Italy by steel construction company Cimolai. It will open in Venice on September 4. Then, ahead of COP30 from November 10–21, it will go to Belém, becoming a “permanent floating landmark in the Amazon—an architectural testament to adaptability and dialogue in the face of climate change.”  Visitors will be at eye level with the water. (Courtesy CRA/Höweler & Yoon) Last year’s COP29 took place in Baku, Azerbaijan, while the G20 summit happened in Rio de Janeiro. At G20, Brazil president Luíz Inácio Lula da Silva announced that, by 2030, there will be “zero deforestation” in Brazil, a huge win for climate activists. “We need to take care of the largest forest reserve in the world,” Lula said last year in Rio de Janeiro, “which is under our care. Trying to make people understand that keeping the forest standing is an economic gain.” AquaPraça is a partnership with Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and the Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security. It’s also supported by Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bloomberg Philanthropies, the World Bank’s Connect4Climate program, CIHEAM Bari, and others.

The In-Side Collection of outdoor furniture by Thomas Heatherwick resembles an impossible shell, formed to protect a creature not from this world. The shapes warp naturally around themselves, for a surprising finish at the end: a burst of bright multicolored spots made of recycled plastic, growing in great numbers across the surface. A beautiful example of rotational molding, this collection produced for Magis brings innovative technology and imaginative design together in harmony. Following several months of testing the rotational moulding technique using a blend of two types of recycled polyethylene, Magis observed that while the exterior of the material seemed fairly standard, slicing it open exposed an unexpected, unevenly speckled interior. “The idea behind this new collection is to use waste materials and reveal their inner beauty in an unexpected way,” says Heatherwick. The thought and experimentation that went into the In-Side Collection is exemplary of Heatherwick’s style – rigorous research goes into materiality, production methods, and detailing. This collection features rippled molding on the outside, a clever use of the capabilities of rotational molding. Coupled with the colored flecks on the interior, the material is a blend of post-consumer and post-industrial recycled polyethylene, part of extensive research into the impact recycling can have on our collective waste streams. Discarded bottles can now become luxury furniture through imagination and work. Flecks gain traction on the inside of the chair, adding pops of confetti-like color in contrast to the soft, muted exterior color palette of Sage, White, and Terracotta. The collection features an armchair, sofa, and low table, all rated for outdoor use. Organic form reigns supreme, not staking any claim on the natural environment but instead blending in, adding interest and elegance to any landscape. Thomas Heatherwick is a British designer focused on the human experience. He explores architecture, urban planning, product design and interiors projects, centering the axis of his studio around originality, inventiveness, and identity. Since 1994 when his studio was established, he has challenged convention, sustainability, and a strong sense of materiality at the forefront of his work. As our world becomes more globalized, his ideals of democratic design and cleverness of craft remain evocative of another time, while his aesthetic decisions stay cutting-edge. Since 1976, Magis has been pushing the boundaries of design, striving to incorporate the values of respect, honesty, and loyalty to their work. Based in the Veneto, a region of Italy known for it’s high-quality craftsmanship and level of finish within design, they strive to employ Italian craftspeople from as close to the locale as possible. This ensures that they can maintain close relationships with suppliers, and produce as much local commerce as they can. In their Code of Ethics, rare for a furniture brand, they detail their commitment to their employees, customers, and suppliers in that order, establishing where their commitments lie overall – to their people, ensuring Magis products will be made well by respected artisans for decades to come. To learn more about the In-Side Collection by Thomas Heatherwick for Magis, head to magisdesign.com. Photography courtesy of Magis.

Because the Verganis love color, Menino used a lot of it, carefully, so as never to overwhelm the Harlem-meets-Milan aesthetic. A deep orange paints an accent wall in the primary bedroom, color-matched by a painterly wallcovering opposite it. The sleek muted green-and-blue kitchen is Menino’s homage to Carlo Scarpa, while the jewel box guest bedroom-cum-library sports a more verdant forest hue on its bespoke Murphy bed with a desk and built-in bookcases. An ombré teal powder room with a sculptural sink is another moment of joyful experiment but the living room—decorated with a custom sectional and vintage seating around a tiered marble cocktail table by Menino—is largely neutral.A vintage kilim rug is underfoot in the serene living room where the custom Italian-made sofa gathers with a custom marble cocktail table and vintage chairs by Jorge Zalszupin and Carlos Motta in front of new bespoke steel-framed doors to the terraced garden. The living room’s relaxed and sun-filled vibe makes it one of the most-used rooms in the house as well as the perfect space for a striking tree branch sculpture by local artist Jannette Jwahir Hawkins, says Miriam, who worked with art advisor Aurore Vullierme to source such contemporary pieces. With Miriam’s plans to grow the family’s collection over time, Menino left a few walls blank here and chose their subtle gray hue specifically to be an optimal background to future artwork.Though the brownstone is certainly a family abode, it is also a natural venue for the Verganis’ love of entertaining, whether a soiree that extends indoors and out across the garden level or an intimate gathering at the dining table with Miriam’s “unbelievable tiramisu,” as Menino describes it. Flowing, relaxing, and luxurious rooms facilitate daily life and such occasions with equal ease. “We were excited to work with someone who would understand our design vision and had a deep knowledge of our culture,” says Miriam of Menino. “But we also wanted this house to reflect our story: how we moved here at a young age and made our life in New York.”A sculpture by Jannette Jwahir Hawkins stands adjacent the existing fireplace mantel, decorated with an artwork by Faustine Badrichani and a ceramic vase by Marion Naufal. Menino Design Studio specified Tiger Onyx for the home’s statement-making custom bar and matching wall cladding behind it. A custom Affreschi & Affreschi wallcovering adds color and texture to the primary bedroom, where the bespoke bed wears Parachute linens. Vintage Giuseppe Scapinelli armchair. A painting by Ernest Crichlow hangs on a Benjamin Moore orange–painted brick wall in the primary bedroom, which features an existing fireplace mantel with vases by Marion Naufal. Sculpture (on side table) by Victoire d’Harcourt. Vintage Giuseppe Scapinelli armchair. Menino Design Studio created a floating Azul Cielo marble sink for the Roman clay–clad primary bath, where the tub is by Produits Neptune with Hotbath fixtures. The office is decorated with a desk by Hugo Besnier, chair by Cultivation Objects, pendant by Pablo Designs, and a vintage Gregori Warchavchik magazine rack. The mural-like wallpaper is by Affreschi & Affreschi, made with a custom blue. Photograph by Coreen Simpson.

html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" Together with Italy's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Italy's Ministry of Environment and Energy Security, CIHEAM Bari, the World Bank Group's Connect4Climate program, Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Bloomberg Philanthropies, CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati and Höweler + Yoon have unveiled AquaPraça, a floating cultural plaza that will serve as the focal point of COP30 in Belém, Brazil. AquaPraça serves as a forum for international climate discussion by utilizing sensing technologies and Archimedes' principle to adjust to shifting sea levels and occupancy demands. It will make its transatlantic journey to the Amazonian city, where it will become a permanent cultural landmark, after making its premiere at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale. The architecture of AquaPraça, which spans more than 400 square meters (4,000 square feet), physically carves out public space from the sea, establishing a tangible conversation between natural forces and the constructed environment. Using the concepts of buoyancy, displacement, and equilibrium, the submersible structure floats. AquaPraça continuously adjusts its holding and releasing capacity to keep a low freeboard with the surrounding water level. At eye level, the audience witnesses the dynamic variations of sea level rise, resulting in fresh insights into urban and ecological systems. AquaPraça's aim is to act as a civic catalyst. It can accommodate more than 150 people for cultural events, workshops, symposia, and exhibitions. It will make its sustainable journey to Belém after making its debut at the Biennale Architettura in September 2025. There, it will be a crucial component of the Italian Pavilion at COP 30, showcasing Italy's architectural and climate action thoughts to a worldwide audience. As a permanent legacy of the summit in the Amazon, the platform will continue to be a component of Belém's cultural infrastructure after the summit. A special international alliance makes AquaPraça possible. It was started in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Italy. It is also supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the World Bank's Connect4Climate program, CIHEAM Bari, Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and others. The establishment emphasizes the goal of bringing disparate communities together and promoting ecological thought globally. There is a formal procedure in place for expressing interest."In 1979, Aldo Rossi launched the Teatro del Mondo at the first Biennale Architettura, positing that architecture could engage with the past," said Carlo Ratti, professor at MIT and the Politecnico di Milano, co-founder of CRA, and curator of the Biennale Architettura 2025.""Today, AquaPraça shows how architecture can engage with the future—by responding to climate and engaging with nature rather than resisting it,” Ratti added."AquaPraça lets visitors meet the sea at eye level," said Eric Höweler, co-founder of Höweler + Yoon and a Professor at Harvard University. "Its sloping surfaces and shifting levels embody a delicate equilibrium." "It’s a platform, both literal and figurative, for deepening our collective understanding and experience of sea level rise and the impacts of climate change on global cities and communities," added J. Meejin Yoon, co-founder of Höweler + Yoon and the Gale and Ira Drukier Dean at Cornell University College of Architecture, Art, and Planning, “and seeking collective solutions."Image © Agnese BediniImage © Agnese BediniImage © Agnese BediniImage © Agnese BediniImage © Agnese BediniImage © Agnese BediniLeading cutting-edge steel construction firm Cimolai is now building AquaPraça in northeastern Italy. It will be exhibited on September 4, 2025, at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale, before traveling to Brazil. A permanent floating monument in the Amazon, it will be anchored in Belém from November 10–21, 2025, as part of the Italy Pavilion at COP30. It is an architectural example of flexibility and communication in the face of climate change.Project factsProject name: AquaPraçaArchitects: CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati (Coordinator) and Höweler + Yoon ArchitectureTeam MembersCRA-Carlo Ratti Associati: Carlo Ratti (Principal), Andrea Cassi (Principal), Luca Bussolino (Strategy), Gizem Veral (Architect), Sonia Simone (Architect), Rodolfo Siccardi (Senior Architect), Gary di Silvio (Architect/3D Artist), Pasquale Milieri (Architect/3D Artist), Gianluca Zimbardi (Architect/3D Artist); Höweler + Yoon Architecture: J Meejin Yoon (Principal), Eric Höweler (Principal), Asli Baran Grace (Project manager), Shuang Chen (Designer), Selin Sahin (researcher), David Hamm (Technical Advisor) Supporters: Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale; Ministero dell’Ambiente e della Sicurezza Energetica; Bloomberg Philanthropies; Cornell University College of Architecture, Art, and PlanningIn collaboration with: Ciheam Bari, the World Bank Group’s Connect4Climate Program Technical Collaborators: Elettra Bordonaro, Argun Paragamyan, and Luciana Martinez, Light Follows Behaviour; Cristiano Bottino, Studio FM; Mykola Murashko, Davide Spina, Julio Ramirez, and Eren Sezer, Maestro Technologies; Corrado Curti, IngeMBP; Luca Infanti, Luca Vian, Simone Andreatta, Filippo Bellomo, and Mario Nattero, CIMOLAI; Roberto Prever and Antonio Vatta, NAOS; Ruben Pescara and Lodovica Bontempelli, NMLex; Domenico Perrotta, DP38.All images courtesy of CRA and Höweler + Yoon Architecture.All exhibition images © Agnese Bedini.> via Carlo Ratti Associati