Public space is the foundation of urban life. It is the space that belongs to us collectively. Yet today, the city — along with its inhabitants, flora, and fauna — is under stress: extreme heatwaves and heavy rain have become, or will soon become, the new norm, with disastrous impacts on our daily lives, health, infrastructure, and economies. For decades, architecture and the construction industry have focused on reducing energy consumption while increasing indoor comfort and promoting technical solutions. But in the face of global and urban warming, a new priority must take hold: the climate adaptation of public space.

The principles for action are neither new nor unknown. We know the key strategies needed to guarantee the livability of our cities: unsealing surfaces; implementing climate-adaptive rainwater systems, shading, and ventilation; and above all, recognizing the crucial role of trees in public space. We know what must be done. So why do we still hesitate?

Persistent and increasingly specialised sectoral thinking, adherence to traditional planning processes, and outdated priorities continue to stand in the way of progress. But perhaps most critically, the true urgency of the crisis has yet to fully take hold in our collective consciousness.

We must begin to feel that urgency. STRESSTEST is a wake-up call — to architects, landscape architects, public officials, investors, and everyone who calls the city home. It is both a demand and an invitation: to take shared responsibility, and to act with courage, creativity, and speed.

STRESSTEST is powered by solar energy from the first photovoltaic system ever installed on a historic monument in Venice. The system will remain on the roof of the German Pavilion beyond the exhibition. Every material used is part of a circular resource cycle: some originate from Biennale Arte 2024, others are borrowed or already destined for future reuse. The trees planted here will take root in Venice after the exhibition — a lasting contribution to cooler cities and collective resilience.