Under the patronage of UNESCO, the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and the European Space Agency, the project gives a Voice to our Global Commons – Antarctica, the Ocean, the Atmosphere, and Outer Space – broadcasting live from the historic Biennale ticket office designed by Carlo Scarpa in 1952, restored for the occasion and reactivated into the Voice of Commons’ Planetary Embassy.
Slalom is part of the Voice of Commons’ Planetary Embassy—a project hosted at the former Biennale Ticket Office, a remarkable structure originally designed by Carlo Scarpa in 1952. After decades of abandonment, this iconic pavilion has been thoughtfully reactivated by UNA/UNLESS Architecture Studio.
Now transformed into a broadcasting and podcast station, it will host conversations on global sustainability with leading voices from around the world—offering a space that breaks institutional boundaries and amplifies the needs of our Global Commons: Antarctica, the Ocean, the Atmosphere and Outer Space.
Reflective spikes shine, these striking site-specific elements now adorn the ceiling of Carlo Scarpa’s former Biennale ticket office.
This vibrant platform brings together global voices to discuss sustainability and the well-being of our planet—within a space designed for optimal sound performance.
The spikes, reminiscent of those found in recording studios, serve both a functional and aesthetic purpose. Their reflective surface evokes the look of space blankets, a reference that fits with the Voice of Commons’ mission to address urgent planetary concerns.
Though originally conceived as temporary pavilion, Scarpa’s design is rooted in four lasting volumes—among them, a circular structure devoted to people, where a small confessional-scale ticket booth features curved glass facing the Lagoon and translucent panels opening toward the Giardini.
Slalom’s site-specific intervention—integrating innovative acoustic and decorative solutions—was designed uniquely for this space.
Echoing the ceiling installation, a second set of spikes appears along the lower interior of the pavilion—this time crafted from Slalom’s signature grey felt. This material choice pays tribute to Scarpa’s architectural legacy, with the felt’s tone complementing the pre-existing lower concrete wall, while also enhancing the space’s acoustic performance.
