Vault of Heaven, at the China Pavilion of the Biennale Architettura 2025

The 19th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia (Biennale Architettura 2025) opened on May 10th in Venice, Italy. Zigeng Wang, Associate Professor of the School of Architecture at Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) and the principal architect of PILLS Architects, has been invited to create the installation titled “Vault of Heaven” for the China Pavilion. The Installation Vault of Heaven explores China’s unique philosophy of nature and cosmology, narrating a habitat system that has emphasized the harmonious coexistence of man and nature since ancient times. We recycled the green protective netting commonly found in Chinese construction sites as the main material of the installation, and used Intangible Cultural Heritage bamboo-weaving Craft of Traditional Lanterns to build its framework. The final form presents a contemporary reinterpretation of the zaojing (caisson ceiling), a structural and symbolic element that has spanned the history of Chinese architecture. As both a witness to cultural exchanges and a material embodiment of a miniature cosmos, the zaojing encapsulates the essence of the traditional Chinese concept of the harmony between heaven and humanity (tian ren he yi). Beneath the domed ceiling of the zaojing, a meticulously designed sequence of visual narratives unfolds, illustrating China’s imaginative visions of paradise and the pursuit of an ideal life. The work takes the form of a rotating celestial canopy, drawing inspiration from the visual persistence principle of the phenakistoscope. Through the rapid spinning of multiple image layers, it constructs a dynamic narrative divided into four chapters: Heaven, Earth, Humanity, and Divinity. This sequence explores the intricate relationships between human beings and the natural world—birds transforming into deer, deer evolving into humans, fish morphing into rabbits, and swirling cloud patterns interweaving and shifting. These continuous cycles of metamorphosis convey a profound philosophical that all things have spirits and follow the laws of nature. By inviting viewers to perceive the world from a non-human perspective, the installation challenges conventional modes of seeing and understanding nature. The perpetually rotating imagery signifies the cyclical and regenerative nature of the universe, resonating deeply with the biennale’s themes of environmental consciousness and sustainability. Through an empathetic and storytelling-driven approach, The Vault of Heaven presents China’s distinctive understanding of the natural world and its aspirations for a harmonious existence, engaging audiences from diverse cultural backgrounds in a shared exploration of life’s interconnectedness.

Project Information Title: Vault of Heaven Dimensions/Duration: Diameter 5 meters, Height 2.8 meters Exhibiting Architect: Zigeng Wang Design Team: PILLS Structural Team: bespoke. Sur-Mesure Engineering Studio Installation Production Team: UAP (SHANGHAI) ART DESIGN CONSULTING CO..LTD. Handmade Bamboo Weaving Production Team: Weifang Tiancheng Flying Kite Co. Music: Xiaohe Construction Safety Nets from the following companies (ranked in alphabetical order): ARCity Office, Atelier Deshaus, BUZZ Architects, ISOZAKI+HuQian Partners, Jia Kun Architects, line+ studio, MAD, O-Office Architects, Tanghua Architect & Associates, URBANUS, WTD GROUP Exhibition dates: Saturday 10 May to Sunday 23 November 2025 Location: China Pavilion, Biennale Architettura 2025