Legacy

Historically, the people of Venice have learned to adapt to their unique environment and harness the biodiversity of the wetlands. A formative moment in the progression of this project was the discovery of an image in which two Venetian beekeepers are moving their hives in boats after a flooding of the lagoon. It's these traditions that provide a synergy between man and nature, and it's the essence of these traditions that will bring us back to sustainability.

A formative moment was the discovery of an image from 1938 in which two Venetian beekeepers are moving their hives between islands.

Our mission

The Biennale's curator Carlo Ratti describes the exhibition as positioning architects as “mutagens�.
Our mission is to not only reestablish a positive coexistence between humans and nature, but to establish a foundation for a future that nurtures. We will achieve our goals by utilizing the organic agents of pollination and mutation; an exchange that - through interspecies architecture - will promote fertility that births innovation.

Meaning of unEarthed

The “unEarthed� exhibition is inspired by the natural world, where underground root systems enable ecosystems to thrive.

Similarly, the exhibition reveals the often-hidden processes of collaboration and discovery that drive meaningful innovation.

Through this lens, “unEarthed� challenges traditional disciplinary silos, illustrating that addressing complex global challenges requires transdisciplinary approaches.

By "un-earthing" these processes, the exhibition exposes the layers of collaboration and inquiry that shape impactful solutions, embodying the Honors College's commitment to fostering leaders equipped to navigate complexity.

“unEarthed� was named by Kevin Jones, a Professor of Practice and Honors Faculty member, who also serves as design mentor and creative director alongside the students for the project.

2nd Nature is a play on words representing two main objectives we hope to achieve. One, that the introduction of more than 60 types of plants and over 10 pollinators during the exhibition will promote the growth and flourishing of the garden space, creating a �2nd Nature� in the city of Venice.

“We believe that taking steps to preserve and promote the health of our natural environment should be 'Second Nature' to everyone,�
said Javier Mico-Crump, Honors student.

“We also have a focus on leaving the garden better than we found it using pollination and mutation, hence the second part of the title.�
said Javier Mico-Crump, Honors student

Meaning of PolliNATION

We hope that through our work at the Biennale, our ideas of preservation and restoration will spread like pollen, creating a vast community with a collective environmental consciousness.

This community is the PolliNATION.

Pollen is a microparticle that is about 2 to 100 microns depending on plant species. Pollen microparticles can have a slight positive or negative charge that affects their motion.

This Electrostatic force plays a role in getting the pollen onto pollinators from anther, then from pollinator to stigma.

Bumblebees can detect electric fields between them and flowers to find which flowers have already been visited by another pollinator.

1 Interspecies Architecture

The interdisciplinary studio of Cloud 9 in Barcelona leads a green agenda that explores pilot projects for global warming scenarios. The ephemeral architecture we showcase at the Biennale is considered a form of interspecies architecture, creating an exhibition space that isn't human-centered, but pollinator-centered.

1. ETFE membrane from recycled plastic by Seele.
2. Timber structure by Blumer Lehmann.
3. USM structures with plants and exhibition contents.
4. Atmospheric water generator by Aquaria.
5. Photo-voltaic cells.
6. Cobots charged by Piaggio Fast Forward.
7. Hydroponic Smart Tree by Cloud 9.
8. Net Zero installation with passive ventilation.

Every detail of the project aims for carbon neutrality: A timber-framed architectural structure anchors the pavilion, made by our Industry Partner Blumer Lehmann, protected by a ETFE Membrane made by Seele, surrounded by a pollinator garden made by Valley Landscaping, irrigated with atmospheric water technology provided by Water Creek.

“This opportunity highlights Virginia Tech's commitment to cutting-edge transdisciplinary education while giving students international exposure and a platform to engage in critical conversations shaping the future," said Dr. Anne-Lise Velez.

“The college will exhibit student projects that represent a number of viewpoints, values, and aims, tying into the collective intelligence theme of the event.� -Dr. Anne-Lise Velez

Exhibiting Innovation

The �unEarthed / Second Nature / PolliNATION� exhibition will feature 11 projects spanning the Honors College's diverse programs and courses, including:

• Second Nature / PolliNATION: No Blue, No Green
• Sustainability & Environmental Justice Frameworks
• Knowledge Unchained: Calhoun Honors Discovery Program
• Community Wealth Building: SuperStudio
• Chairs in the Air: Calhoun Honors Discovery Program
• Green New Deal: SuperStudio
• Cities and Social Change Honors Workshops
• Farm “Cobotsâ€�: Calhoun Honors Discovery Program
• Culture Sculptures: SuperStudio
• Hypnos (NASA): Calhoun Honors Discovery Program
• Agrivoltaics: SuperStudio

These projects, rooted in the Honors College's commitment to transdisciplinary inquiry, involved 142 students and 12 faculty, exemplify the power of collaboration to address pressing global issues, and pursue to show case Honors collective intelligence.

The unEarthed / Second Nature / PolliNATION� exhibition will feature 9 projects spanning the work of Cloud 9 office in Barcelona:

• ME WE Foundation, Figueres
• Villa Accretion, Malibu
• El Teatre dels Somnis, Caldetes
• CaixaForum Valencia
• DaeSang Park, South Korea
• H108 Project, Taipei
• ElBulli 1846, Roses
• Untitled, Cala Canyelles
• The Watermill Center, New York

The “No Blue, No Green� studio, led by acclaimed architect Enric Ruiz Geli, is responsible for the design-build ephemeral architecture.

The studio comprises student disciplines such as: Biology, Architecture, Industrial Design, Literature, Criminology, Communication, Physics, Visual Art, Computer Science and Systems Engineering, each of which is incorporated into the project in a process of transdisciplinary collaboration.

Students have worked as professionals-in-training, collaborating with industry partners from various fields. USM Modular Furniture, a renowned Swiss company that is providing modular systems for the exhibition, will also offer mentorship, industry expertise, and insights that enhance students' understanding of real-world project development.

In October, Jon Thorson, CEO of USM North America, visited the Honors College to finalize the partnership and review students' progress. During the visit, the students presented their work, showcasing drafts of architectural structures, predictive models, horticultural plans, and curated displays.

"The Honors College approach is unlike any educational model I've encountered," said Thorson

"It invites student participation and leadership into every collaboration. What I saw yesterday mirrors professional-level project development." said Thorson