Text by the architects
The purpose of this competition was to reform and rebuilt the historic island Poveglia of the Venice lagoon into a University campus. So our first aim was to identify some of special features of the floating historic city of Venice, famous for its rich architecture. Our observation was that it consists of free flowing repeating units-buildings, with atriums and façades that have a consistent rhythm.
Poveglia on the other hand is an island that has big free spaces of green and nature, as well as gaps that have been created by the pre-existing buildings. In order to integrate with the island we created an architecture concept that would respond to the above. So as our main theme was the repeating free flowing units-buildings. Firstly we connected the pre-existing buildings with four roof protected pathways that were placed at their gaps. Secondly since the size of the university required new buildings, we decided to respect and restore and reuse the old ones without many changes, and created new buildings which consisted of a units turning it in to a building with a an atrium.
They are placed in such way and in such heights that they continue the imaginary boundary of the old ones, and respecting the nature of Poveglia Island they are placed at the free green spaces mentioned above. Also in dialogue to the old we placed windows to the new buildings in the same rhythm as the old. Last but not least the construction of the new buildings is a façade of many louvers and by blurry glass that dresses the concrete building, in order to give the building an impression of the a venetian romantic style and in order to conserve the “ghostly sense” that has been created throughout the years.
Facts & Credits:
Competition: Poveglia Univesity Island
Location: Venice, Italy
Status: Mention
Architecture Study: FIOR.E Team
Team Leader: Florian Liakos
Team Members: Irene Helen Marcantonatou, Alexis Visvinis
Location: Venice, Italy
Status: Mention
Architecture Study: FIOR.E Team
Team Leader: Florian Liakos
Team Members: Irene Helen Marcantonatou, Alexis Visvinis
Project Year: 2016
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