LET ME WARM YOU || Questioning the Impact of Renovations on Community and Climate
Can the humble act of insulation become an architectural manifesto, challenging the very fabric of urban life?
The Estonian Pavilion, aptly titled "Let me warm you," at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia explores this provocative inquiry. Curated by architects Keiti Lige, Elina Liiva, and Helena Männa, this insightful installation confronts a pivotal question: are insulation-driven renovations merely bureaucratic measures to meet European energy targets, or are they meaningful interventions enhancing the social and spatial quality of mass housing?
Let me warm you. Tartu Annelinn © Andres Tarto collection Estonian Architecture Museum
The Pavilion boldly envelops a historic Venetian building in insulation panels typically used in Estonia's mass housing renovations. Set along the waterfront at Riva dei Sette Martiri, the stark modernity of these panels contrasts vividly with Venice's ornate architectural heritage. This juxtaposition acts as a visual dialogue, urging a reconsideration of architectural authenticity versus the pragmatic realities of climate policy.
Let me warm you. Mixed technique ©Joosep Kivimäe
Inside, the ground-floor exhibition immerses visitors in a poignant narrative. Wrapped entirely in plastic film, it symbolizes the relentless push for technical renovations, highlighting how these superficial fixes often obscure deeper social and emotional bonds residents have with their homes. At the heart of the exhibition is a detailed model depicting a Soviet-era housing block, where theatrical dialogues dramatize how human interactions profoundly influence spatial design.
Curators Keiti Lige, Elina Liiva, and Helena Männa stress the dual nature of insulation initiatives: "With this project, we question whether insulation is just a bureaucratic checkbox for meeting EU targets or a real chance to tackle social and spatial challenges. It exposes the clash between bold global ambitions and the everyday realities of people navigating collective decisions."
Europe's race toward climate neutrality by 2050 compels Estonia's ambitious goal of upgrading all pre-2000 apartment buildings to at least energy efficiency class C. Yet, the Pavilion argues, insulation must transcend its function as a mere compliance measure, instead evolving into a thoughtful intervention improving everyday life.
Let me warm you. Rakvere renovation ©Päär Keedus
The Estonian exhibition aligns seamlessly with the broader Biennale theme "Intelligens. Naturale. Artificiale. Collettiva." curated by Carlo Ratti, who emphasizes substantial architectural solutions amidst escalating environmental crises. Johanna Jõekalda, commissioner of the Estonian Pavilion, reinforces this vision, highlighting that the "architectural quality of the living environment should not be overlooked in renovation processes."
"Let me warm you" stands as a poignant invitation for architects, policymakers, and citizens to re-envision the renovation process—not merely as environmental necessity but as a collective opportunity to foster community engagement, spatial integrity, and a warmer, more interconnected urban life.
DETAILS
Pavilion of Estonia: Let me warm you
Address: Riva dei Sette Martiri 1611 (Castello neighborhood), Venice
Opening hours: Tuesday–Sunday 10 a.m.–6 p.m. (May 10th — November 23rd, 2025)
Commissioner: Johanna Jõekalda
Curators: Keiti Lige, Elina Liiva, and Helena Männa
Organiser: Ministry of Cultureof Estonia
Co-organiser:Estonian Museum of Architecture
Exhibitors: Keiti Lige, Elina Liiva, Helena Männa, Märten Rattasepp, Kirill Havanski, AadamKaarma, Joosep Kivimäe
Production: Mari-Liis Vunder
Collaborators: Neeme Külm (Valge Kuup Studio), Margus Tammik, Robert Männa, MarkusPuidak, Randel Pomber
Supporters: Ministry of Culture of Estonia, Cultural Endowment of Estonia, KMT Prefab OÜ, Swisspearl Group AS, PK-Salong, Luminor Bank AS, Brightlux Group OÜ, RAITWOOD, AS Craftdrinks company MULL°, Rothoblaas, AT Prateko OÜ, Inmarx Partners OÜ, Estonian Academy ofArts/ Erasmus+, LIFE IP BuildEST, ESSVE Estonia AS, Sokisahtel OÜ
