Local+Global: methods and techniques for a project of regeneration.

The project aims to investigate the possibilities of an architectural dialogue between what are considered to be the dichotomies of ancient and contemporary, local and global. The project tests such dialogue presenting itself as a showcase in architectural scale of the aesthetics of its products, all of which belong to a strong century-old tradition.

Our main challenge as architects building in Venice is to find an answer to the contemporary needs of the City without compromising its peculiar atmosphere. Though this question engages vividly the architectural discourse of every historical city that we know, it can be more insidious in Venice, as its small urban size and yet intact net of streets and buildings make it very hard to allow modifications and very challenging for contemporaneity to find space in it. This project tests a possible relationship between ancient and contemporary, local and global. The tendency of contemporary Architecture today is moving towards a more and more globalized use of materials, façade treatments and functional programs. Such fashions have often put at risk the identity of many cities we live in, as they tend to become uniform. For this reason, it is necessary to explore designs that are more related to the place. The project aims to inquire what is merely globalized tendency and what is authentically contemporary. The designing process started from preliminary detail investigation of the façade on Rio dei Gesuiti not only for its prominent position on the area, but also to take care of the technical issues that come with building on swamps. The boundary of the site is defined by an existing brick wall which dates back to the 17th Century bordering the water on two sides. The History of the site was retained by leaving the surface of the existing wall untreated. The building’s glazing was set 1m back from the perimeter of the site, avoiding humidity problems connected to the exterior wall and constituting a visual continuation of the interior space, as it can be used to expose glass objects and plants. The building finds its centrality in the lightwell, a void that cuts vertically through the building. During the day, natural light cascades from the skylight into the building. At night, the lightwell becomes a lantern for the city. Rondel glass, lamps, curtains, chairs padding and many other components in the building, are meant to be produced directly in the workshops and will be replaced over time.