Way of Water
at Palazzo Mora, Venice Biennale 2025
Way of Water is an installation developed by the Institute for Dynamical Systems and Control at ETH Zurich. The project showcases a fleet of compact, autonomous surface vehicles designed for coordinated aquatic motion and light-based visual displays.
Each vehicle, measuring 50 cm in diameter and equipped with four omnidirectional thrusters, operates with high-precision maneuverability and safety features. The system performs in synchronized formations, leveraging onboard lighting and water actuation to generate dynamic visual effects on urban water bodies.
While designed primarily as an artistic installation, the platform also serves as a testbed for research in multi-agent coordination, human-robot interaction, and environmental applications, highlighting the potential of autonomous watercraft in both creative and scientific domains.
What is Time Space Existence
Since 2012, Time Space Existence has been a major biennial architecture exhibition organised and hosted by the European Cultural Centre in Venice. Exploring the fundamental philosophical concepts of Time, Space, and Existence, the exhibition brings together a diverse and international group of participants from various disciplines. Through completed and ongoing projects, innovative proposals, and visionary ideas, exhibitors engage with these themes in response to contemporary discussions.
Held every two years, Time Space Existence fosters dialogue among architects, universities, esteemed masters, emerging studios, established global firms, designers, artists, photographers, developers, and engineers, who have a crucial role in shaping the future of how we live.
About the ECC Italy
ECC Italy is a well-established branch of the larger European Cultural Centre, based in Venice. Operating within the fields of art, architecture, and design, the organisation strives to create dynamic exhibition spaces that foster the exchange of ideas across cultures. ECC’s core activities include the planning and management of cultural projects, the creation of exhibitions, publications, videos, and educational programmes. The architecture-focused exhibition Time Space Existence alternates each year with the contemporary art exhibition Personal Structures.
