DESA1002 'Continuous City' Courtney Owen

Abstract

DESIGN PRACTICE 1B SUMMARY COURTNEY OWEN SID: 307157830 LA SCATOLA DI VETRO MURANO AND ITALIAN GLASS EXHIBITION CENTRE Venice ... arguably one of the world’s most renowned tourist hubs; or as some have come to believe, a soon-to-be theme park for the rich, who will simply jet in for a day or two and then leave. But what is it about Venice that keeps the masses coming back? The romance of the city at night; the serenity derived from the lack of motored transport; the winding maze of canals, not to mention streets; the large, open piazzas; the historic architecture; the rich culture. Whether it is one of these reasons or another, we can be sure that one quality prevails above all else: the innate sense of mystery that is bred into Venice. And La Scatola di Vetro doesn’t fail to live up to this expectation. Picture this: Imagine sitting in San Marco Piazza; sipping on a perfectly brewed Italian coffee whilst watching the pigeons pass by. One takes flight, and you follow it with your gaze, when all of a sudden, a glimpse of something exciting and magnificent appears, hovering above the roofline of the Procuratie Nuove. You are intrigued. You wish to discover what mysteries this floating glass box has to offer. You see people moving up glass elevator shafts in order to enter the building, but from where you are sitting, the entry is not clear. You quickly finish the rest of your coffee; throw down a handful of the complimentary peanuts; pay the bill, leave a tip; and off you head, looking for the entry. This action in itself becomes the first little mystery wanting to unfold! You enter the Procuratie Nuove, when all of a sudden ... you are confronted with the lifts – the circulation up to this undiscovered world. The ride up is eventful – the layers of this historic building begin to unfold – when suddenly, you break through the roof and are now passing through the sky. The city of Venice begins to be revealed – a perspective of it you haven’t seen before. From here, the city looks very consistent, but it is beautiful in every sense. After ascending some twenty-odd-meters, and upon entry to the building, you are greeted by some marvellous works of art – the most exquisite Italian and Murano glass exhibits to be exact. Though, taking the time to admire these works of art has not kicked in yet – you are still mesmerised by the view that can be seen out of the full curtain wall glass facade. It opens up a whole new perspective of Venice you never previously conceived possible – one that looks over the whole city, coming to expose: San Marco Basilica and the Piazza to the north-east; Santa Maria della Salute to the south-west; and suburban Venice to the north-west; with all of these marvels gradually becoming apparent as you circulate your way around the 67 meter long building. When you settle down and take the time to admire the glass exhibits, you come to realise they are exquisite; they are strong but fragile; and they have a unique, yet simplistic form - all qualities of the building in which they are housed. Whilst the structure of La Scatola di Vetro¬ may appear to be a rectilinear element of prosaic simplicity, core pods (used to define areas of distinct activity), give the structure a form that is memorable and functional. A form that is divided over two levels and leaves the exterior floor space open for circulation and uninterrupted views of Venice. You can visit one of the three distinct exhibition spaces; see how it is all made in the glass blowers workshop – or if you are game – have a go at creating your own little souvenir as a take-home memory of today’s adventure. But if, after all that, you wish to put your feet up; take a seat in the cafe on the upper mezzanine level and begin to take in the city of Venice from a light, airy, uncluttered, aerial perspective. You will be overwhelmed by a sense of content; so it is only fitting that you exit via the second set of lift cores which present themselves in the Giardini Landscaped Reserve – and while you are there, why not take a stroll in the park, or lie on the grass and admire the qualities in your hand-made souvenir. Not to mention admiring the way in which the building is held up by a scattered array of slender concrete columns which slide seamlessly with the trunks of the trees in the reserv¬¬e. So with a brief tour of La Scatola di Vetro put forth, – it’s now time to discover for yourself The Fragile Mystery. Enjoy Courtney Owen