The research project “Mapping Macau’s Urban Evolution 1557 – 2022” will be featured at the “Parallel Worlds, Exhibition from Macao, China” Collateral Event of the 19th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia
Organised by the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR Government and implemented by the Macao Museum of Art, the “Parallel Worlds, Exhibition from Macao, China” will be presented as an official Collateral Event of the 19th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia from 10 May to 23 November 2025. The exhibition is curated by Pritzker Architecture Prize laureate Wang Shu and Lu Wenyu, who have conceived a poetic exploration of Macao’s urban landscape through architectural language.
At the core of the exhibition is a collaboration between renowned architectural photographer Iwan Baan, winner of the Golden Lion at La Biennale di Venezia, and academic teams from the China Academy of Art and the University of Saint Joseph, in Macao. Iwan Baan’s photographic works, capturing Macao’s unique urban texture where Chinese and Western cultures have coexisted for centuries, will engage in dialogue with architectural models and installations created by professors and students from both institutions.
The University of Saint Joseph’s participation features the research project “Mapping Macau’s Urban Evolution 1557-2022”, presenting a series of three-dimensional models that illustrate Macao’s urban development across more than 450 years. Sponsored by the Macau Foundation and coordinated by Prof. Nuno Soares, Head of the Department of Architecture and Design of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of USJ, this project is built upon a five-year research initiative conducted with third-year students from the Bachelor of Architectural Studies program within the Evolution of Urban Landscapes module. Prof. Soares will be present at the opening event with a team of four faculty members and twelve students from the Master of Architecture at USJ.
Dutch photographer Iwan Baan in collaboration with Wang Shu and Lu Wenyu, as well as students and professors from both academic institutions of architecture, have formed a cross-disciplinary creative team, presenting a vibrant interpretation of cultural diversity for the “Parallel Worlds, Exhibition from Macao, China” at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia. The exhibition will be held from 10 May to 23 November 2025, at Arsenale, Campo della Tana, Castello 2126/A, 30122, Venice, Italy, and will be closed on Mondays, except on holidays.
EXHIBITION CREDITS:
PARALLEL WORLDS
Exhibition from Macao, China
19th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia
Curator/s:
Wang Shu & Lu Wenyu
Exhibitor/s:
Iwan Baan
Department of Architecture and Design of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, University of Saint Joseph, Macao
Coordination Professor: Nuno Soares
Team of professors: Filipa Simões, Filipe Afonso, Lyu Ruijie, Sérgio Proença
Students: Bianca Dumsing, Chen Guo Liang, Hod Pizem, Kam Chak Man, Leong Hou In, Nestor San Valentin, Olivia Barreto, Patrícia Khan, Paul Llanes, Rui Fernandes, Vong Chon Man, Zon Hmie Hmie
School of Architecture, China Academy of Art
Team of professors: Song Shuhua, Jiang Weihua, Huang Li
Students: Ye Shu, Shao Xiayue, Zhong Xiaofan, Wang Linfei, Wang Mingzhe, Xu Gaohong, Xie Tianyi, Wang Qiance, Fang Ziyun, Wang Jiaqi, Xu Jialei, Kang Lu, Xiao Yanan, Ding Zhangwei, Lyu Yangming, Wu Jiongzhang, Yang Zhen, Xu Chengling, Tang Hui, Geng Tianxu, Ye Shiquan, Zhu Pengzhengyang, Chen Xu, Jiang Cenyu, Fang Chengkai, Lyu Mohan, Ren Xiaoyu, Zhu Jiaoyang, Huang Shihan, Zhou Ziyue, Wang Xueli, Wang Shutong, Xu Zhangyi, Chen Yufei, Zhu Bingkun, Xia Shuang
General Director: Deland, Leong Wai Man
Exhibition Coordinators: Tong Chong; Marjorie, Lam Wai Wa
Exhibition Supporting Team: Dora, Loi Weng I; Chang Lap Ian; Wong Man Fai; Iris, Lei Chi Hang; Lei I Ha; Mak Lei; Ellie, Chan Sok Fan; Eva, Chan Kun Kun
Acknowledgment: MGM; Department of Architecture and Urbanism, University of Saint Joseph, Macao; School of Architecture, China Academy of Art; C S Art Management
RESEARCH PROJECT
The research project “Mapping Macao’s Urban Evolution 1557–2022 – A Computational Method for the Bidimensional Representation and Tridimensional Modulation of Macao’s Historical Cartography” created a rigorous and comparable mapping visualization of the urban evolution of Macau from 1557 to 2022. It combined together two research fields—traditional urban evolution studies and computational design methodologies—to create a database for the visualization of the evolution of Macao’s urban landscape. This research produced as an output a clear computational method for the rigorous bi-dimensional representation of historical maps using contemporary cartography as a base and for the tri-dimensional modulation of historical maps based on the precedent rigorous bi- dimensional representation. This project is built upon a five-year research initiative conducted with third-year students from the Bachelor of Architectural Studies program within the Evolution of Urban Landscapes module.
Coordinator:
Nuno Soares
Students:
Andrew Lam, Ekaterina Kozlovskaia, Hermano Garcia, Heidi Chau, Joy Cho, Maria Maximo, Olívia Barreto, Shirley Hoi, Hamish Chan, Arthur Oliveira, Leo Chan, Piana Lei, Yvone Llantero, Janelle Pua, Ivan de Leon, Bianca Dumsing, Oscar Leong, Paul Llanes, Vera Vong, Katherine Zon, Anfelde Lucindo, Ana Samia, Justin Wong, Evan Bertelsen, Jacky Cheong, Angel Raz, Thomas Kou, Ian Ho, Maximas Wu, Leo Leong, Rossetti Ung, Elvis Lam, Hon Kit I, Micael Olfindo, Shamita Lumibao, Tam Chipok, Graça dos Santos, Lai Hon Chio, Gloria Lam, Kelvin Chou, Kingsley Liang, Henri Goh, Jonas Chan, Henry Tam, Vanda Chan
