Carlo Ratti Associati (CRA), an Italian design firm, together with US-based Höweler + Yoon Architecture, have unveiled their innovative proposal for AquaPraça, a floating cultural plaza designed to host gatherings focused on climate change dialogue. This project is part of the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale and will be a central feature of the Italian Pavilion at COP30, the global climate summit to be held in November 2025 in Belém, Brazil.
Project Background and Purpose
AquaPraça emerges amid growing concerns over rising sea levels and the need for adaptable infrastructure that can respond to changing environmental conditions. The floating plaza aims to provide a public space that not only adapts physically to fluctuating water levels but also serves as a platform for global climate conversations. Its design represents an architectural response to environmental challenges, exploring new relationships between human-made structures and natural forces.
The project is a collaboration between several organizations, including Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Italy’s Ministry of Environment and Energy Security, Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, CIHEAM Bari, the World Bank Group’s Connect4Climate program, and Bloomberg Philanthropies.
Design and Technical Features
The structure covers more than 400 square meters and consists of a series of sloped surfaces and adaptive systems that enable it to float and maintain stability as water levels change. The platform employs sensors and responsive technology integrated with natural water dynamics to continuously adjust its buoyancy in real time.
Some key technical aspects of AquaPraça include:
- Adaptive Buoyancy System: Using Archimedes’ principle, the plaza holds and releases water within its structure to keep the platform’s surface closely aligned with the sea level. This system allows the platform to submerge or rise slightly depending on the water conditions without causing discomfort or disruption for visitors.
- Sloping Floors: The plaza’s floor features multiple inclines designed to create different viewpoints. Some areas rise above the water level, providing visitors with broad perspectives over the surroundings. Other lower areas position people at eye level with the water surface.
- Water Integration: A rectangular cut-out section in the floor allows water to flow into the central part of the plaza, reinforcing the connection between the structure and the natural environment around it.
- Canopy and Columns: A grid-like canopy, supported by slender columns, provides shelter while maintaining openness to the sky and surrounding water. This design allows natural light and ventilation while offering some protection from the elements.
Symbolic and Cultural Significance
AquaPraça is intended not only as a physical space but as a symbol of how architecture can engage with climate issues. Carlo Ratti, who is both the founder of CRA and curator of the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale, refers to the project as an evolution of the floating architectural legacy established by Aldo Rossi’s Teatro del Mondo, which premiered at the 1979 Biennale.
Ratti states, “AquaPraça shows how architecture can engage with the future — by responding to climate and engaging with nature rather than resisting it.”
The plaza is designed to be a space that encourages visitors to confront the realities of climate change physically and intellectually, facilitating discourse on environmental challenges and solutions. Its design reflects a philosophy that architecture should work with natural systems instead of opposing them, making it a living example of resilience and adaptability.
Function and Use at COP30
At COP30, AquaPraça will function as the Italian Pavilion’s centerpiece, hosting exhibitions, workshops, and symposia related to climate change, architecture, and environmental policy. It is designed to accommodate approximately 150 people simultaneously, making it suitable for both formal events and informal gatherings.
The plaza’s flexible and open design supports diverse uses, from presentations to cultural performances, facilitating an exchange of ideas among delegates, experts, and the public. The goal is to provide a platform—both literal and metaphorical—for deepening understanding and cooperation on climate issues.
Timeline and Future Plans
- Venice Architecture Biennale, September 2025: AquaPraça will be unveiled as part of the Biennale’s exhibition, showcasing its design and concept to an international architectural audience.
- COP30, November 2025, Belém, Brazil: The floating plaza will be transported to the Amazonian city of Belém, where it will anchor the Italian Pavilion. The summit will use the plaza as a venue for climate discourse and cultural exchange.
- Permanent Installation: After COP30 concludes, AquaPraça will remain in Guarajará Bay, a part of the Amazon River delta. It will become a long-term public space and cultural landmark in the region, contributing to the local community’s engagement with environmental issues.
Environmental and Technical Implications
AquaPraça addresses urgent concerns about sea level rise, a phenomenon affecting many coastal and riverine cities worldwide. Its adaptive buoyancy system exemplifies how infrastructure can be designed to coexist with shifting environmental conditions rather than attempt to control or resist them.
The real-time adjustment of buoyancy using sensors and water flow responds to natural fluctuations caused by tides, rainfall, or climate-induced changes. This technology reduces the risk of flooding or instability, making AquaPraça an example of resilient design in the face of climate uncertainty.
This approach may serve as a model for future infrastructure in vulnerable regions, highlighting the potential of floating architecture to provide public amenities without permanent ecological disruption.
Broader Context of Floating Architecture
Floating architecture is gaining traction as a practical solution to climate risks. Projects around the world are exploring similar concepts, from floating housing developments to recreational facilities.
For example:
- Rotterdam is developing Europe’s largest floating residential neighborhood, designed to adapt to rising water levels in the city’s docklands.
- In Miami Harbor, a floating padel court has been created, offering sports facilities that respond to local water conditions.
At the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale, other water-related projects include Diller Scofidio + Renfro’s mobile library that transforms canal water into coffee and Porsche’s shimmering bridge and transport hub.
These projects collectively reflect a growing architectural trend to embrace water as an integral part of urban environments, rather than as a threat.
Conclusion
AquaPraça represents a significant advancement in climate-responsive architecture. By combining adaptive technologies with a public cultural program, it demonstrates how built environments can both respond to and shape awareness about climate change. As rising sea levels continue to threaten urban areas worldwide, AquaPraça offers a promising example of how innovative design can help communities adapt and engage with their changing surroundings in meaningful ways.
Image sources- dezeen.com, designboom.com
