Beginning last weekend, and running as a collateral event to the Venice Biennale Architettura 2025, our designs for the the Dublin Bay Discovery Centre will be part of the Deep Surfaces exhibition of existing and imagined visitor centres to UNESCO designated sites. The exhibition, hosted by the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe at Palazzo Zorzi, will be open to the public from 10 May until 23 November 2025 with free admission.

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[From Deep Surfaces press release]

Deep Surfaces - Architecture to enhance the visitor experience of UNESCO sites - delves into the realm of multifunctional architecture designed to enhance the experience of UNESCO designated sites, with a focus on visitor information and interpretation centres. Developed in collaboration with UNESCO sites worldwide, this exhibition investigates the role of architecture to enhance visitor’s experience, connect narratives, people, and their environment, while also contributing to the preservation of our shared heritage.

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The exhibition offers an opportunity to reflect on how architecture, when designed with purpose and sustainable values as part of a site management vision, can foster heritage stewardship, improve and regulate accessibility, support local economies, and promote social inclusion. Ultimately, the exhibition seeks to enhance UNESCO sites as learning environments for sustainable development and global citizenship, helping to address the complexity of today’s global challenges.