Much of CLAD’s coverage this week was unsurprisingly centred around the 15th Venice Architecture Biennale.

The event is the biggest in the industry’s calendar, and CLAD was there to take a look at this year’s pavilions – exploring different challenges and solutions facing built environments around the world – and to meet some of the most influential architects working in leisure.

Among the exhibits that caught our eye were Spain’s Golden Lion-winning exploration of how Spanish architecture has overcome economic turmoil, Norman Foster’s planned droneport for Rwanda and MVRDV’s invisible Infinity Kitchen, with the latter two likely to have strong leisure applications in the future. Winy Maas, one of the creator’s of the Infinity Kitchen, used a forum at the event to demand architects “kill vagueness” in their projects and text heremake the public benefits of their work clear for everyone.

The theme of public space and how it should be developed is a prominent one at this year’s festival, and Biennale curator Alejandro Aravena opened his introductory press conference with some fiery criticism of developers who put profit above the public good. Richard Rogers later backed this rallying cry in an interview with CLAD, in which he emphasised the need for us all to “defend our public spaces”.

“The erosion of public space by the private market is a really serious problem in cities.” What do you think? https://t.co/sCcVrwT1cv

— UM_Architecture (@UM_SoA) May 31, 2016

Outside of Venice, Bjarke Ingels appeared in Paris for a public discussion on BIG’s plans for EuropaCity, and in the US, NFL franchises the LA Rams and the Atlanta Falcons celebrated as their forthcoming stadiums were selected to host future Super Bowls.

Zaha Hadid Architects enjoyed a busy week; winning a big commission to create a new cultural quarter in Bournemouth, UK, and revealing new design images for their forthcoming Mathematics Gallery in London’s Science Museum.

#Exciting can't wait @sciencemuseum is great! Fitting #tribute ! https://t.co/jYRok9IwFs

— Lida Cucina Ltd (@LidaCucina) June 1, 2016

In other big museum news, the British Film Institute announced plans for a new flagship home of British cinema, South Korea is seeking architects for a new National Museum Complex, and La Cité du Vin, a museum centred around wine, designed by XTU architects and exhibition designers Casson Mann, was opened in Bordeaux by French President Francois Hollande.

International wine attraction opens today in Bordeaux @XTUarchitects @cassonmann https://t.co/SnHerHhAJo pic.twitter.com/NJYNkwHCaT— CLAD (@CLADglobal) June 1, 2016

For more leisure design and architecture news you can check the CLAD website everyday and follow us on Twitter @CLADglobal.