Re-designing the Certosa island 2023 Edition
New architectural icons in Venice
The workshop will be the opportunity to test the notions learned in the other didactical modules, as students are called to give strategic solutions to a real architectural project. The workshop is organized in collaboration with Vento di Venezia, concessionary company of the Certosa island since 2002. Located a few minutes by boat from the Arsenal and from some of the most iconic landmarks of Venice, the Certosa island is a hidden gems of one of the most fascinating cities in the world. Mostly covered in forests and nature, the island - which has recently been restored - hosts the fascinating ruins of the ancient Carthusian monastery and some artifacts built by the engineer corps. With a renowned restaurant and its very own marina, the concessionary company aims at transforming the island into a high-end tourism destination, for those who want to immerse themselves in nature, in the heart of the historical marvels of Venice. In this view, designers will be asked to renovate the restaurant, develop lodge modules (on land and floating) to increase the accomodation potential of the island. Considering the maritime vocation of Venice, its construction tradition, and the strong presence of nature in the area, the Certosa island will be the perfect location for a workshop whose aim is to experiment wood design techniques, which can be consistent with the environment, the history, and the natural characteristics of the lagoon.
The Certosa island
The Certosa island is one of the largest islands of the Venice lagoon. Thanks to its geographical location, at less than 200 meters from the area of S. Pietro di Castello and at two kilometers from Piazza S. Marco, it can be considered as part of the city centre. At the same time, the interesting history of the island and its naturalistic value make the Certosa island part of the environmental and socioeconomic context of the northern lagoon, and it can be considered the access point to the lagoon itself. It hosted the first community of Augustinians since 1199, followed by the Carthusians in 1424. Covered in vineyards, fields, and pastures, the island fell into disrepair during the course of 1500s with the outbreak of the plague. The religious activities in the convents stopped in mid-1600s, when the island was first occupied by the army, acquiring a military purpose consolidated during the French occupation. It was abandoned in 1958, then in November 2004 all the infrastructures were restored and donated to Vento di Venezia, a company of young entrepreneurs and sailors, who are rapidly opening a marina resort that is both sustainable from an environmental point of view and also a driver for the development of the area. Today, Vento di Venezia hosts some of the most innovative enterprises of Venice, adding to the offer of the island with several activities for the clients of the Venezia Certosa Marina. Among these activities, there are a boat rental of classic boats with electrical propulsion (Classic Boats Venice), a tour operator organizing kayak tours around the lagoon and the city (Venice Kayak), a nautical equipment shop (Uship), and a shipyards for classical boats (i Fratelli Vidal).