The Shape of Things to Come, a new exhibition by Formafantasma, opens at Venice’s historic Negozio Olivetti on May 8th and runs through September 28th, 2025. Curated by Bartolomeo Pietromarchi, the show coincides with the Venice Architecture Biennale and revisits the studio’s 2017 Ore Streams project, now expanded to examine planned obsolescence in the tech industry. Set within Carlo Scarpa’s modernist masterpiece, the exhibition draws a sharp contrast between enduring design and today’s throwaway systems.
Through physical objects, documentary films, and 3D animations, Formafantasma explores how the electronics industry conceals its environmental footprint behind glossy exteriors and cloud-based illusions. A key piece dissects global recycling networks, revealing how fragile and incomplete they are in the face of mounting e-waste. Another installation reflects on how tech products are engineered to fail, shortening lifespans to drive endless consumption.
The exhibition’s title nods to H.G. Wells, but rather than speculate, it insists that what we design now determines the future. Olivetti’s legacy—durability, innovation, and social responsibility—offers a countermodel to today’s disposability. The Shape of Things to Come is not just an exhibition, but a call to rethink design as a long-term commitment.
Dive into our interview with Carlo Ratti—visionary architect, tech innovator, and curator of the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale.