Norwich University Leading Change and Innovation in Transformative and Contextual Housing Models: Citizen Architects at the 2025 Venice Biennale “Time Space Existence” Exhibition

For over 20 years, Norwich University’s architecture students have served as leaders in the affordable housing sphere, constructing full-scale projects to address Vermont’s most urgent community needs. Since 2011, seven affordable housing prototypes have been created. In 2019, Norwich’s Design + Build Collaborative (“the Collaborative”) was established to further answer this call, drawing on diverse academic disciplines ranging from architecture to construction management to nursing, helping design and prototype regionally informed, resilient housing. Several of the Collaborative’s housing projects also address healthcare needs, including wrap-around care services that address physical and mental well-being.

This past spring, Norwich’s Collaborative and Stonorov Workshop Architects, a Montpelier, Vermont architecture firm co-founded by Norwich architecture professor Tolya Stonorov, were invited to participate in the 2025 Venice Biennale Time Space Existence International Architecture Exhibit. This prestigious event will take place in Venice, Italy, from May through November 2025, and draws roughly 350,000 visitors annually. The Collaborative and Stonorov Workshop Architects will display their most innovative and award-winning projects, aimed at addressing affordable housing for low-income and homeless Vermonters. With Vermont—and many parts of the world—experiencing an affordable housing crisis, Norwich is uniquely positioned to showcase our success in creating beautiful houses that respect natural landscapes and aesthetics (i.e., avoiding high-rise buildings, etc.), thus empowering vulnerable citizens to live with dignity.

The Exhibit: 
• The projects will be depicted as part of an exhibit of six wall panels that will include detailed models of the housing projects as well as a research summary panel based on Stonorov’s Dana Research Fellowship. 
• Two of the housing projects were developed through the Design Build studios at Norwich University—CASA 802 and the LIFT House.
• Reflects the award-winning work of over four dozen NU students over the past decade.

Timeline: 
• Professor Stonorov hired 2 Norwich students to build models of the houses and design 2D drawings for the exhibit during the Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 semesters. 
• Professor Zach Seibold’s “Digital Design and Fabrication” seminar involved +/- 15 students in helping create the exhibit. Students in this seminar will work on the digital fabrication of the larger ‘research panel’ city model, the smaller housing model prototypes and the model bases for each of the 5 remaining panels. Both 3-D printers and the CNC router will be utilized. 
• The models will be shipped to Venice in April 2025.

Far-Reaching Impact: 
• 30 Norwich students in the University’s study abroad CityLAB: Berlin program will attend the Biennale for four days in October 2025 as part of their international multi-city field trip; they will engage with the exhibit, participate in guided tours, and gain invaluable insights into global architectural trends and practices. 
• All 80+ students and professors in Norwich’s School of Architecture + Art community will learn of this project through courses, seminars, media exposure, etc. 
• Serves as an example to the entire Norwich University campus.

Join Us: 
The Venice Biennale “Time Space Existence” exhibit represents Norwich competing at the highest level in the design-build sphere. With its expertise in creating affordable, sustainable, and beautiful affordable housing models, the Biennale is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to highlight our best work on an international stage. In addition to celebrating Norwich’s expertise, it provides critical hands-on learning for current students and inspires the creativity and critical thinking necessary to fuel our next developments in the affordable housing frontier.