The project dubbed "100YC (100 Year City)" will be opened at the A+A gallery, which functions as the Slovenian pavilion during the Biennale, by Minister for Education, Science, Culture and Sport Žiga Turk.

The project by architect Tom Kovač is the product of work by more than 1,000 people worldwide, experts like architects, urbanists, artists, economists, scientists, philosophers as well as students and their mentors.

The result is more than 100 selected projects by 23 universities, colleges and schools of architecture involving more than 400 students working under the tutelage of acclaimed experts.

Their visions of the city of the future will be presented by means of prints and computer applications that visitors will be able to download to their tablet computers and smartphones.

The organisers hope the project to establish Maribor, which this year boasts the title of the European Capital of Culture, as a new European cultural destination.

The project will be upgraded with an exhibition in Maribor and presentations in Ljubljana and at the Ars Electronica festival in Linz, which is considered to be one of the biggest new media events in the world.

The International Architecture Exhibition, which opens on Wednesday, is being held in Venice since 1980 alternating every second year with the international contemporary art exhibition.

Slovenia has been participating in the exhibition as an official member of the international organisational team since 1992.

Slovenian architecture is showcased at the A+A Gallery, which has become an established arts exhibition venue throughout the year, not only during the Venice Biennale.

The commissioner, author and project for this year's show have been selected in an international competition. The commissioner is Tomaž Dobrila and the contracting authority the Science and Research Association for Arts, Cultural and Educational Programmes and Technology EPeKa.