The countdown to the grand opening has begun Procuratie Vecchie in Piazza San Marco in Venice. The recovery project, future headquarters of the Assicurazioni Generali foundation "The Human Safety Net", will finally reopen its doors in the Spring 2022, following a five-year restoration carried out by David Chipperfield Architects Milan which is expected to be completed by the end of 2021.
For the first time after 500 years, a large part of the Procuratie Vecchie will be made accessible to the public. The project does not end with a single concept or architectural gesture, but with a series of interventions that address the complexity of the work. These include the restoration of the first and second floors, the reorganization of the accessibility and usability of the building through the insertion of new stairwells, the renewed central entrance on the third floor with access to the high-altitude courtyards.
The historic building, developed along the northern side of the square, will become a new large attraction and activity pole, with social aims. In the year of his 190th birthday, Generali will close 2021 on a high note with the ambitious project aimed at making Venice the world capital of sustainability, while at the same time preserving the history of the building.
The model, which will be exhibited in the Royal Gardens of Venice, opens in six parts showing the magnificent facade of the building and allowing visitors to admire some of the interventions carried out in the various spaces.
“Companies have a role that goes far beyond their business activity, and can make a difference to the communities in which they operate through actions with a significant and lasting impact,” he said. Philippe Donnet, Group CEO of Generali -. As part of our commitment to sustainability and to crown Generali's 190th anniversary celebrations, we want to give new life and a new purpose to the Procuratie Vecchie in Venice. As home to The Human Safety Net, this iconic building will become a space for the exchange of ideas for overcoming the major societal challenges of today's world, and will inspire visitors to take action to unleash the potential of people living in vulnerable conditions. I would like to thank everyone who helped us make this dream come true!”.
While David Chipperfield he stressed that working on the project was a huge privilege. “We are reunifying and carefully adapting the fabric of the building, breathing new life into the Procuratie Vecchie and what they represent for Venice: not just an attraction but a vibrant space of activity in a living city. The strength of a project like this depends on the quality of the collaborations: we are very grateful to our client, consultants and our team on site for the significant effort put into the project. We look forward to its reopening to the public next year."
