Construction Wisdom: Preserving Venice with Both Tradition and Innovation

Since the second half of the nineteenth century, scientists and literary figures alike have focused on the decay of Venice, the former surveying the damage, the latter describing its charm, both recommending proper preservation. Over time, the growth of mass tourism and the city’s economic development have brought about social, urban and architectural transformations, causing a marked decline in both the local population and in craftsmanship. Loss of knowledge of traditional building skills subsequently led to irreversible low-quality interventions in which historical surfaces have been progressively replaced by non-durable plasters. The main reason for this project is to create synergy between the University IUAV in Venice (Istituto Universitario di Architettura di Venezia) and Venice’s local craftsmen through which traditional ‘construction wisdom’ can once again come to the fore. The project seeks to enhance the expertise of artisans and the use of historical materials so as to care for the city, respecting its ‘material culture’ while simultaneously addressing sustainable innovation. It is focussed on the preservation of Venice through thorough and continuous maintenance that can control – and possibly lessen – improper architectural changes and develop a broader sensibility towards the authenticity of materials, both in monuments and simple artifacts. It improves education by enabling older custodians of traditional knowledge to transfer it to the younger generation which will have the duty of preserving Venice’s future.