This year's commission aims to examine the relationship between architecture and colonisation as parallel, interconnected systems. The exhibition’s geographical, geological and conceptual focus stems from the British Pavilion’s pivotal alignment along an axis that runs between Britain to the north-west, and Kenya and the Great Rift Valley to the south-east.
The exhibition, GBR – Geology of Britannic Repair, is a unique UK-Kenya collaboration between a multi-disciplinary team of curators: Kabage Karanja and Stella Mutegi of Nairobi-based architecture studio Cave_bureau; UK-based curator and writer Owen Hopkins and academic Professor Kathryn Yusoff.
Making a case for architecture as an earth practice, the curators and their collaborators hope that the exhibition will help to dismantle the prevalent and often unquestioned concept of architecture and rebuild it as a non-extractive practice geared towards repair, restitution and renewal.
Emerging from the 'rift', the exhibition is made up of a series of installations by Cave_bureau, Mae-ling Lokko and Gustavo Crembil, Thandi Loewenson, and the Palestine Regeneration Team / PART (Yara Sharif, Nasser Golzari and Murray Fraser).
GBR – Geology of Britannic Repair will reimagine what architecture has always uniquely been able to do: to try to materialise, visualise and aestheticise these vast processes and histories that stem from or contribute to colonialism and climate change into something that is meaningful, tangible and relatable.
This year’s commission has been conceived as part of the British Council’s UK/Kenya Season 2025, which celebrates the creative, cultural and educational links between the UK and Kenya.
The exhibition runs from 10 May to 23 November 2025.
Film: John Ingle © British Council
Visual identity: TEMPLO
2025 Exhibition Supporters
The Dalmore
The Dalmore is proud to support the British Pavilion at the 2025 Biennale of Architecture and shares their quest to showcase exceptional talent. Through The Luminary Series, The Dalmore celebrates whisky making artistry and architectural design with unique, authentic collaborations, resulting in exceptional Rare and Collectible whiskies and sculptural designs. This partnership furthers The Dalmore’s commitment to the design industry.
10N Collective
10N Collective is proud to support the British Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale. The partnership symbolises a shared commitment to creative, innovative thinking and belief in the power of diverse, global dialogues and perspectives that are essential to creating an equitable, sustainable future.
