Gateway to Venice's Waterway by Norman Foster and Porsche

“Gateway to Venice`s Waterway” is a joint research project of the Norman Foster Foundation and Porsche at the Architecture Biennale 2025. The prototype explores the future of mobility in Venice. For Sir Norman Foster, this project is about “envisioning a Venice where historic preservation and advanced mobility coexist, creating a blueprint for urban innovation that respects the past while embracing the future”.

Architect Norman Foster and Michael Mauer, Head of Style Porsche, “Gateway to Venice's Waterway”, Art of Dreams Venice, 2025, © Porsche AG

The 37 m long structure consists of a curved aluminum frame clad with a kinetic surface. The design of the shimmering structure is inspired by the Porsche 917, combining lightweight construction technology and the cube pattern of the racing car. The use of advanced materials and design techniques from Porsche's motorsport history is combined with the bridge shape, which is reminiscent of the historic pedestrian bridges of Venice. Local materials have been used to reduce the ecological footprint. This is in line with the intention of this year's Biennale, which is completely circular and waste-free.

The Porsche 917 provides the inspiration for the design of the shimmering construction. “Gateway to Venice's Waterway”, Art of Dreams Venice, 2025, © Porsche AG

The structure serves as a functional gateway and is both a junction and a bridge at the same time. It creates an active connection between water and land. Water bikes (Schiller bikes) and motorboats with electric drives, which were used as carbon-free mobility solutions during the opening week of the Architecture Biennale in Venice, will be used. In addition, students from Porsche Style and Studio F.A. Porsche Zell am See will be demonstrating various alternative urban mobility solutions.

“Gateway to Venice's Waterway” serves as a functional gateway and is both a hub and a bridge at the same time. © Loop

The gateway concept can be relocated to new locations and developed further. In this way, it meets the constantly changing requirements of global urban mobility. The structure will be accessible to all age groups from May 10 and is intended to open up conversations beyond architecture. The research project has intensified the collaboration between the Norman Foster Foundation and Porsche – further projects are to focus on the future of automotive mobility.