Porsche and Norman Foster Foundation reveal e-mobility gateway in Venice

Porsche and the Norman Foster Foundation present a 37-meter installation at the Venice Biennale, exploring sustainable urban mobility through design and innovation.

When architecture meets the dream of the future, projects like this one emerge. In the heart of Venice’s Arsenale, a 37-meter-long installation titled Gateway to Venice’s Waterway has taken shape — the result of a collaboration between the Norman Foster Foundation and Porsche as part of the art initiative The Art of Dreams. More than just an artistic object, this structure offers a platform for discourse on the future of urban mobility.

The installation references Venice’s iconic bridges and is constructed using recycled materials. Its frame is made of aluminum, inspired by the lightweight chassis of the Porsche 908 race car. The kinetic surface features a cube pattern reminiscent of the new Macan — a nod to Porsche’s design language and a statement of sustainable construction.

But the "Gateway" is more than a symbol; it serves a purpose. It showcases emission-free transport concepts for both land and water, including Schiller water bikes and the fully electric sports boat Frauscher x Porsche 850 Fantom Air. Based on the Frauscher 858 model, the boat is equipped with an electric drive system similar to that of the Porsche Macan and offers seating for nine passengers. The steering console and control panels were developed by Style Porsche.

The project is part of the 19th International Architecture Exhibition in Venice, whose 2025 theme is Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective. Curator Carlo Ratti invites reflection on how natural, artificial, and collective intelligence can inform sustainable solutions in architecture and urbanism. Within this framework, Gateway to Venice’s Waterway stands out as a timely fusion of art and engineering.

Michael Mauer, Head of Style Porsche, emphasized how such collaborations broaden the scope of automotive design and inspire strategic rethinking of the brand’s future. Norman Foster, for his part, spoke of the “courage to dream of a Venice where historic preservation coexists with advanced mobility.”

This installation is not just a Biennale exhibit. It marks the beginning of a long-term partnership between Porsche and the Norman Foster Foundation. Together, they aim to explore new approaches to individual mobility and the integration of transportation systems into the historical fabric of cities.

Source: porsche.com