The German pavilion at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition in Venice presents STRESSTEST, a thought-provoking showcase on the urgent impacts of climate change on urban life. The exhibition highlights how rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and sea level rise threaten cities with heat stress, floods, and droughts, making urban spaces harder to live in. It demonstrates that architecture and landscape planning can and must play a role in creating more climate-resilient cities through simple yet effective strategies.

The exhibit features an immersive projection that vividly illustrates the causes and consequences of urban overheating, combining data, images, and positive examples of urban transformation. Visitors can experience heat stress firsthand through specially designed spaces—one simulating a hot, congested environment, and another offering a cool, calming oasis with nature-based solutions like shaded trees. Art installations also connect the scientific insights to sensory experiences, emphasizing the complex and sometimes unpredictable nature of climate phenomena.

Centered around the theme “Intelligent. Natural. Artificial. Collective,” STRESSTEST shows that sustainable urban development requires a combination of green infrastructure, innovative technology, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The pavilion’s sustainability efforts include solar energy and recyclable materials, with trees planted on-site that will later be replanted in Venice, symbolizing lasting resilience. Overall, the exhibition calls for urgent action to address climate challenges, emphasizing that architecture and community effort are vital in shaping healthier, cooler, and more adaptable cities for the future.