Venetian culture

Today is a slightly different post as I am writing to you from the 2014 Venice Biennale. This year is Architecture ‘Fundamentals’ and Rem Koolhaas has brought the start of the Biennale forward to the beginning of June running right through until the end of November. This is my first visit to Venice and while only relatively short, I am in love.

One of my “must do’s” was to experience the Fondazione Querini Stampalia, a cultural institution in Venice. Which was renoevated by Italian architect Carlo Scarpa whom was also a glass and furniture designer, influenced by the materials, landscape, and history of Venetian culture.

The Fondazione Querini Stampalia was founded in Venice 1869 by the last descendant of the Venetian Querini Stampalia. The site is composed of  living quarters, an archive, a library, and a museum of paintings and furnishings. In 1949, the Presidential Council of the Fondazione Querini Stampalia decided to begin the restoration of some parts of the Palazzo Querini. The foundation, tasked Carlo Scarpa to restore the ground floor, which was in a state of neglect and decay reviving the library, museum and gardens.

Scarpa introduced the experience of water directly into the building through the two arched gates which he lined with identical steel and brass hinged grills. The detailing in this institution is astounding and I hope that the photos do this project justice. Material junctions are expressed and surface finish of where the hand touches a railing for instance has been pondered upon and resolved masterfully. This site is relatively unknown to the average tourist so it feels like at times you have the place to yourself! If you are ever in Venice the Fondazione Querini Stampalia is a must!