![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Q347MW37FNBAFPBISG6MM5VC24.jpg?smart=true&auth=88232116ad90e5fc448d7e8cef8a23c41a9cbd977b74cdda9a3673d7f4db584d&width=400&height=225)
A relatively small prototype, on a table, of a misfit assembly wall incorporating stone and twigs. Photo: National Pavilion UAE La Biennale di Venezia / Basil Al Taher
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AGXNM4SNBNEUJJTE6WKIRGHKNE.jpg?smart=true&auth=5fdb632cf2c3007a4be66df066e7be89157de936e6b89f94793fdf607677e438&width=400&height=225)
Aridly Abundant, the National Pavilion UAE's entry at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2023, will explore how the landscapes of the Hajar Mountain range can be used as models of abundance for other arid environments. Photo: National Pavilion UAE La Biennale di Venezia / Reem Falaknaz
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/J6NMFIP2PZAIBFGYQOROOXUDUU.jpg?smart=true&auth=19ec8c37582dcd61c10f213d3fbde10128f85b4b1e2e20f8da7ea77b8d54ff89&width=400&height=225)
The project will pair traditional practices with contemporary technology, to present sustainable building solutions for arid climates across the world. Photo: National Pavilion UAE La Biennale di Venezia / Reem Falaknaz
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BIPTGNXIPBDVRJCPE23O7B5K5Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=aa1c2f67210f03541cf13ee445237de7d66020a2a04b57eb2e1e79fdc643a861&width=400&height=225)
Faysal Tabbarah, curator of National Pavilion UAE at the Venice Architecture Biennale, says the project hopes to use the Hajar Mountains' diversity to 'reshape the narrative around arid landscapes', and present them as 'spaces of abundance'. Photo: National Pavilion UAE La Biennale di Venezia / Reem Falaknaz
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TCC4KZ3IJJBJNJX6X3OTO4DR5U.jpg?smart=true&auth=3508bf111253efddb69eb3209f079c1a5ec70ae4b44abf95f4b6d27cc8e117fb&width=400&height=225)
A prototype of a misfit assembly incorporating stone, fallen wooden elements, and 3D-printed connections. Photo: National Pavilion UAE La Biennale di Venezia / Faysal Tabbarah
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HBMMU3WHDZDGXDHNGBQ3BYOVMY.jpg?smart=true&auth=4622668b351d099246dd22422d5339e24389d8cebb2f7644206c47c1059adcf4&width=400&height=225)
Two pipes, supporting plant growth at the foothills of the Hajar Mountains, are tethered together with steel wire and rope. Faysal Tabbarah, Tethered Pipes, 2022. Photo: National Pavilion UAE – La Biennale di Venezia / Faysal Tabbarah
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/26HZP5ABJZHUJKNLXT5FAKUXIQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=5161232d6c69ce0384dcea1aa12c1f101ea74d4b3f37bec6657b0907a1ed0778&width=400&height=225)
A prototype of a misfit assembly incorporating rocks and a 3D-printed connection. Photo: National Pavilion UAE – La Biennale di Venezia / Basil Al Taher
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OIWAJUO2SNCDZM5VHZ2VMINQIQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=ef36c70412ce03954b5d4eda8fe2bb745832bea5170de753bc44e713c1b032af&width=400&height=225)
The exhibition will be joined by a travelogue publication, which explores aridity as not just a condition but a practice, an identity and a state of mind. Photo: National Pavilion UAE La Biennale di Venezia / Faysal Tabbarah
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RDKMTAWKABFBTE4JJPRNF5ZWVE.jpg?smart=true&auth=17dfb070f3114ee4b1575afb35c4e85b890fd223631cc1f5906641e9185c7f65&width=400&height=225)
National Pavilion UAE director Laila Binbrek says: 'The project seeks to share the UAE’s local-based knowledge and research that is of relevance and importance to other nations facing aridity.' Photo: National Pavilion UAE La Biennale di Venezia / Reem Falaknaz
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Q347MW37FNBAFPBISG6MM5VC24.jpg?smart=true&auth=88232116ad90e5fc448d7e8cef8a23c41a9cbd977b74cdda9a3673d7f4db584d&width=400&height=225)
A relatively small prototype, on a table, of a misfit assembly wall incorporating stone and twigs. Photo: National Pavilion UAE La Biennale di Venezia / Basil Al Taher
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AGXNM4SNBNEUJJTE6WKIRGHKNE.jpg?smart=true&auth=5fdb632cf2c3007a4be66df066e7be89157de936e6b89f94793fdf607677e438&width=400&height=225)
Aridly Abundant, the National Pavilion UAE's entry at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2023, will explore how the landscapes of the Hajar Mountain range can be used as models of abundance for other arid environments. Photo: National Pavilion UAE La Biennale di Venezia / Reem Falaknaz
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/J6NMFIP2PZAIBFGYQOROOXUDUU.jpg?smart=true&auth=19ec8c37582dcd61c10f213d3fbde10128f85b4b1e2e20f8da7ea77b8d54ff89&width=400&height=225)
The project will pair traditional practices with contemporary technology, to present sustainable building solutions for arid climates across the world. Photo: National Pavilion UAE La Biennale di Venezia / Reem Falaknaz
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BIPTGNXIPBDVRJCPE23O7B5K5Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=aa1c2f67210f03541cf13ee445237de7d66020a2a04b57eb2e1e79fdc643a861&width=400&height=225)
Faysal Tabbarah, curator of National Pavilion UAE at the Venice Architecture Biennale, says the project hopes to use the Hajar Mountains' diversity to 'reshape the narrative around arid landscapes', and present them as 'spaces of abundance'. Photo: National Pavilion UAE La Biennale di Venezia / Reem Falaknaz
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TCC4KZ3IJJBJNJX6X3OTO4DR5U.jpg?smart=true&auth=3508bf111253efddb69eb3209f079c1a5ec70ae4b44abf95f4b6d27cc8e117fb&width=400&height=225)
A prototype of a misfit assembly incorporating stone, fallen wooden elements, and 3D-printed connections. Photo: National Pavilion UAE La Biennale di Venezia / Faysal Tabbarah
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HBMMU3WHDZDGXDHNGBQ3BYOVMY.jpg?smart=true&auth=4622668b351d099246dd22422d5339e24389d8cebb2f7644206c47c1059adcf4&width=400&height=225)
Two pipes, supporting plant growth at the foothills of the Hajar Mountains, are tethered together with steel wire and rope. Faysal Tabbarah, Tethered Pipes, 2022. Photo: National Pavilion UAE – La Biennale di Venezia / Faysal Tabbarah
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/26HZP5ABJZHUJKNLXT5FAKUXIQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=5161232d6c69ce0384dcea1aa12c1f101ea74d4b3f37bec6657b0907a1ed0778&width=400&height=225)
A prototype of a misfit assembly incorporating rocks and a 3D-printed connection. Photo: National Pavilion UAE – La Biennale di Venezia / Basil Al Taher
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OIWAJUO2SNCDZM5VHZ2VMINQIQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=ef36c70412ce03954b5d4eda8fe2bb745832bea5170de753bc44e713c1b032af&width=400&height=225)
The exhibition will be joined by a travelogue publication, which explores aridity as not just a condition but a practice, an identity and a state of mind. Photo: National Pavilion UAE La Biennale di Venezia / Faysal Tabbarah
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RDKMTAWKABFBTE4JJPRNF5ZWVE.jpg?smart=true&auth=17dfb070f3114ee4b1575afb35c4e85b890fd223631cc1f5906641e9185c7f65&width=400&height=225)
National Pavilion UAE director Laila Binbrek says: 'The project seeks to share the UAE’s local-based knowledge and research that is of relevance and importance to other nations facing aridity.' Photo: National Pavilion UAE La Biennale di Venezia / Reem Falaknaz
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Q347MW37FNBAFPBISG6MM5VC24.jpg?smart=true&auth=88232116ad90e5fc448d7e8cef8a23c41a9cbd977b74cdda9a3673d7f4db584d&width=400&height=225)
A relatively small prototype, on a table, of a misfit assembly wall incorporating stone and twigs. Photo: National Pavilion UAE La Biennale di Venezia / Basil Al Taher
How the Hajar Mountains inspired the UAE's National Pavilion at the coming Venice Biennale
Aridly Abundant will pair traditional techniques with contemporary technology at the architecture event
![Hareth Al Bustani](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2Fb91364fa-4e08-41b0-a47d-a73738ea0d06.png?smart=true&auth=210c3f617c459d0319021e44fca82e010c402edff39090f9d9f522b9a0102d6a&width=70&height=70)
Hareth Al Bustani
13 February, 2023
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