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On the occasion of the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of the Venice Biennale, titled Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective and curated by Carlo Ratti, the Norman Foster Foundation and Porsche present Gateway to Venice’s Waterway. The installation, located at the Arsenale next to the historic Armstrong Mitchell crane, marks the debut of a collaboration between the renowned architectural foundation and the German car manufacturer. It is part of the eighth edition of the art initiative The Art of Dreams.
Since 2021, The Art of Dreams has given Porsche the opportunity to collaborate with artists and designers worldwide, exploring the concept of dreams as a creative driver. After stops in Paris, Milan, Singapore, and Miami, the eighth edition finds in Venice an ideal setting to reflect on how dream and reality can merge into tangible projects. Artists involved in past editions include Ruby Barber, Chris Labrooy, Audrey Large, and Numen/For Use.
Spanning 37 meters, the structure conceived by the Norman Foster Foundation and Porsche interprets the theme of urban mobility through a language that interweaves architecture, design, and engineering. Echoing Venice’s iconic network of bridges, Gateway to Venice’s Waterway functions as an experimental hub for electric mobility, conceived for an urban context as delicate as it is symbolic.
The installation acts as a node for innovative electric vehicles, such as the Schiller Bike and the Frauscher x Porsche 850 Fantom Air sports boat, powered by the same fully electric engine as the new Porsche Macan Turbo.
The project also includes a selection of studies and concepts developed by students during workshops promoted by Porsche Style and Studio F.A. Porsche. These works will be showcased at the vernissage at Palazzo Pisani Moretta and later made available online.
“Porsche is, and remains, a brand defined by a strong dialogue between tradition and innovation […] This means that we, as a design team, are constantly challenged with how to strategically shape the future of our brand in terms of identity and authenticity. The exchange with Lord Norman Foster and his studio is an invaluable source of inspiration.
This vision, which goes beyond the boundaries of pure automotive design, provides us with essential input to ensure a future-oriented and coherent brand direction.”
Michael Mauer, Vice President of Porsche Style
The installation is not only symbolic but also a concrete manifesto of sustainability. Its lightweight aluminum structure—reminiscent of the trellis frame of the legendary Porsche 917—is designed to minimize environmental impact. The exterior surface, inspired by the geometry of the new Macan, comes alive through a low-energy kinetic skin. The materials used, mostly recycled, and the sustainable construction systems reinforce the connection between architectural form and environmental responsibility.
This intervention in Venice is part of a broader vision: exploring urban mobility models capable of harmonizing technological progress and quality of life. The Norman Foster Foundation and Porsche will continue their collaboration with the goal of developing a new perspective on the car of the future. A selection of their joint sketches—exhibited for the first time as part of the show—lays the groundwork for this shared research.
All images courtesy of Porsche and Norman Foster Foundation
