Margherissima presents a speculative project to shape a new ‘smart’ neighbourhood on 44 hectares of derelict land in the south-east corner of the vast area of Marghera, home to the one of the busiest ports in Italy. It visualises an eclectic combination of buildings that encourage working and living side by side, and as a microcosm of Venice itself interpreted in a post-industrial bricolage sensibility.
Margherissima tells the story of how a specific piece of contaminated land could be transformed with a suitably imaginative architecture that speaks to its residents. On entering, the visitor is shown a bible that was published in Venice in 1675 that has been soaked used car oil. This powerful object raises the question of the ill effects of industry and of the difficulty in cleaning up some of its damage.
The bible offers and image of hope and compromise in an age in which predominantly speaks the language of transaction. It is partnered with a short film that located the project in the context of the lagoon, while in its dirty corner, students exercise their collective intelligence to visualise a townscape where young Venetians may actually want to live.
The centrepiece of the show is a 12m model of a strip of land from the Forte Marghera to I Pili as it could be transformed into a vital neighbourhood that builds on both industrial heritage of Marghera and the timeless architecture of Venice itself.
This model town combines many forms and references to the Venetian tradition, but with an eye on proposing architecture through-making in a wide variety of materials including cast or blown glass, ceramics and porcelain, waste packaging, found objects, everyday items and 3D printing. While consciously referring to the venetian tradition, Margherissima offers a vision of urbanity near to water that may be resonate for towns and villages in similar circumstances around the world.
Forte Marghera is a 10-minute tram ride from Piazzale Roma (next to the railway station). Take tram T1 using your usual vaporetto pass and exit at the second stop – Forte Marghera. Trams run every 10 minutes from their dedicated stop in the centre of the Piazzale. You can find the Google maps address here.
Image: Margherissima preparatory sketch, Venice in a Bell Jar courtesy Nigel Coates.
