At the Arsenale, among the pavilions of the 2025 Architecture Biennale, the Canal Café by New York-based studio Diller Scofidio + Renfro stands out as one of the most talked-about – and awarded – installations of the edition. Located at the far end of the complex, in direct dialogue with the lagoon waters, this small pavilion transforms the daily ritual of coffee into a symbolic and political act.

The simple gesture of drinking an espresso here becomes an invitation to reflect on water resources, the climate crisis, and the possible futures of coastal cities. The water used to prepare the beverages, in fact, comes directly from Venice’s canals: it is extracted, purified, and then served to visitors in the form of coffee.