Venice, a city where stone has etched its millennia-old history, is poised to host the PNA International Forum, a landmark event.

This forum delves into the essence of authentic natural stone, a primal material that has shaped architecture, art, and design. Today, more than ever, it's vital for rethinking our connection with the environment and society.

The current role of authentic natural stone will be explored and expanded under the curatorship of scientific coordinator Raffaella Laezza, an Italian architect and Scientific Head of the IUAV Emergency Temporary Circular Architecture Master's Program (2011-2024).

The question, "What is stone?", will echo through the halls of IUAV University, a cradle of architectural and urban planning wisdom, in tandem with the 19th International Architecture Exhibition, "Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective.".

This dialogue will unfold through the perspectives of architects, designers, artists, engineers, and thinkers, all exploring stone's role in an era of profound change. "Stone is..." is both a project and an invitation to uncover the myriad facets of this timeless material. A "material alphabet" will take form, comprising diverse insights from the geological origins of quarries to the very DNA of design, from low-CO2 construction practices to the evolving urban archipelago.

And there's more: the tactile experience of "frottage," a rediscovery of stone's materiality through touch. Visionaries such as Peter Eisenman, Yale University architect and educator, Najla El Zein, the innovative artist and designer, Suguru Watanabe from Kengo Kuma's studio, Kinue Horikawa of the Angelo Mangiarotti Foundation, and luminaries like Francesco Canali, Claudia Chiappino, Giovanni Santamaria and Walter Mariotti, the philosopher, journalist, and Domus director, will lend their voices to this global conversation.

The PNA International Forum marks the culmination of a journey begun in 2018 by Rete di Imprese Pietra Naturale Autentica, a network of over 40 companies and organizations dedicated to celebrating and safeguarding this extraordinary material. The event, free to attend with prior registration, will take place on June 12th and 13th in Venice. It's a unique opportunity for architects, engineers, designers, institutions, businesses, and industry professionals to immerse themselves in a timeless dialogue between stone, architecture, and the shape of things to come.