H360 and Pedro Mendes da Rocha to unveil Hemp-based installation at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia

In celebration of its 10th anniversary, the Humanitas360 Institute, in partnership with architect Pedro Mendes da Rocha and the Ficus Institute, will participate in the upcoming 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia. The event opens to the public on May 10. A specially designed Hemp-based installation will allow visitors to explore the use of Hemp in architecture and various aspects of human activity over the past 2,000 years.

Founded in May 2015 by Patrícia and Ricardo Villela Marino and Piero Bonadeo, Humanitas360 has a longstanding commitment to informed debate on drug policy and climate justice. By bringing the constructive and ecological potential of industrial Hemp to Venice, the institute envisions the future while reflecting on the past—including the very space it will occupy at the “Biennale Architettura 2025”. Part of the event’s venue, the Corderie dell’Arsenale, owes its vast structure to the merchant ship ropes produced there from Hemp since the 15th century. The material, also used to weave the sails of these vessels, played a crucial role in establishing Venice as a maritime and commercial powerhouse.

A non-psychoactive variant of Cannabis, Hemp is an ancient plant with a wide range of applications, from food production to the textile industry. In the 21st century, it is re-emerging as a sustainable building material through hempcrete, a plant-fiber concrete that offers unique properties: lightness, excellent thermal and acoustic insulation, moisture resistance, and high structural adaptability. Its most significant advantage is its positive environmental impact—Hemp sequesters large amounts of carbon dioxide during cultivation, and the carbonation process of hempcrete continues absorbing CO₂ over time.

The installation, developed in partnership with Pedro Mendes da Rocha, directly aligns with the theme “Intelligens”, proposed by curator Carlo Ratti, which seeks to connect intelligence with solutions to urgent challenges humanity faces amid the climate crisis. The project exemplifies how adaptation to the environment can be achieved with limited resources, presenting an approach that blends tradition and innovation in contemporary architecture.

The 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia runs through November 23.