Porsche and the Norman Foster Foundation Dream a New Venice
In the heart of Venice, beside the towering Armstrong Mitchell Hydraulic Crane at the Arsenale, a bold architectural gesture stands suspended between history and the horizon of innovation. Titled “Gateway to Venice’s Waterways,” this striking installation is the first collaborative project between the Norman Foster Foundation and Porsche—an unlikely yet fitting duo that brings together the meticulous language of architecture and the performance-driven elegance of automotive design. But beyond the awe-inspiring aesthetics, the structure offers something more vital: a vision for the future of urban mobility.
Part of the 2025 Biennale Architettura and Porsche’s global initiative “The Art of Dreams,” Gateway to Venice’s Waterways is a provocation—a conversation starter about how cities can move forward without leaving their past behind. Measuring 37 meters and inspired by Venice’s historic bridges, the installation doesn’t just mimic tradition; it builds upon it, acting as both a symbolic and functional bridge to a future shaped by electric mobility. Emission-free water bikes and electric sports boats surround the structure, offering a real-world glimpse of how clean transport might soon glide through the city’s iconic canals.
The project was developed in collaboration with the Norman Foster Foundation, led by celebrated British architect Norman Foster. Based in Madrid, the Foundation promotes interdisciplinary research and innovation, grounded in the belief that architecture, infrastructure, and urban planning directly impact quality of life. Known for landmark projects such as London’s Gherkin and the Reichstag renovation in Berlin, Foster brings a legacy of visionary design to this initiative—one that reimagines urban mobility with sustainability, beauty, and historical sensitivity in mind.
Venice has long struggled with the tension between preservation and progress. Rising waters, aging infrastructure, and pollution from traditional watercraft threaten the very soul of the city. “Gateway” responds with a glimpse of what could be: a dynamic, sustainable mobility hub that integrates seamlessly into the city's unique landscape. Showcased alongside the installation are emissions-free prototypes like Schiller water bikes and the Frauscher x Porsche electric sports boat, all powered by the same technology that drives the new Macan Turbo. These are not abstract dreams but real-world concepts designed to function in the Venice of tomorrow.
As part of this year’s Biennale theme, “Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective,” curated by Carlo Ratti, the installation nestles into a broader inquiry: how can intelligence—human, artificial, or collective—be harnessed for sustainable living? “Gateway” offers a material answer. Built from recycled aluminium in a nod to Porsche’s historic 917 race car chassis, its kinetic surface borrows design cues from the Macan and operates with environmental sensitivity.
Their partnership is by no means limited to this project alone. Porsche and the Norman Foster Foundation hint at a growing partnership that seeks to transcend the boundaries of art, architecture, and industrial design. In their joint sketches and ideas presented at the Palazzo Pisani Moretta, one can see the roots of future collaborations that may well shape the next era of mobility, one which is personal, intelligent, and planet-conscious.
In a city whose identity has always floated on the edge of imagination and ingenuity, “Gateway to Venice’s Waterways” offers not just an artistic spectacle but a working prototype for a sustainable future. It urges us to ask: what if every city saw its problems as an opportunity for reinvention, rather than compromise? If dreaming is the first step to building, then this installation is a powerful place to begin.
