Donna Haraway, the renowned American philosopher, and Italo Rota, the brilliant Italian architect who passed away last year, were jointly awarded the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement and the Golden Lion for Special Recognition in Memoriam at the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale. These awards were presented to honor their unparalleled contributions to the fields of philosophy and architecture, approved by the Biennale Board and proposed by Carlo Ratti, the curator of the 2025 exhibition. The Venice Biennale exhibition, titled “Smart. Natural. Artificial. Collective,” will be held from May 10 to November 23, 2025, at the Giardini and Arsenale venues in Venice.
Donna Haraway, recognized as one of the most influential contemporary thinkers, has presented a new worldview on the coexistence of humans and non-humans with her pioneering perspectives in the fields of philosophy of technology, feminist theory, and anthropology.
Italo Rota, the renowned Italian architect who posthumously received the special Golden Lion award, is recognized for his ability to move between different styles and fields of architecture. In notable projects such as the interior design of the Orsay Museum in Paris and the Italian Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, he combined innovation and poetic imagination with scientific and technological precision. Rota not only made significant contributions in architecture but also played a prominent role in education and cultural engagement. The project Material Bank: Matters Make Sense, exhibited at the Arsenal, honors his legacy and celebrates his cultural and architectural impact.
Donna Haraway’s selection as one of the prominent figures at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2025, especially in the context of the coexistence between humans, technologies, and nature, highlights the alignment of her ideas with the themes of the exhibition. Haraway specifically emphasizes the intersection of humans and non-humans, as well as the challenges posed by the evolution of technology and ecological crises. Carlo Ratti, the curator of the exhibition, aptly refers to Haraway as an inspiration for architects, stating that her legacy will manifest in any path that brings various forms of intelligence together to shape our future.
These awards are not only a tribute to the individual achievements of these two prominent figures but also emphasize the importance of collaboration between humans, technology, and nature in the design and architectural process. The Venice Architecture Biennale 2025 will provide a unique opportunity to explore these intersections and their impact on contemporary architecture.