Studio Brief & Information

The Harvest Road

The studio will research landscape, agriculture and food production within the Venetian lagoon. It will include field trips to directly experience nature, production and products. It will study limits, constraints, specificities and potentials of growing food in an environment surrounded by brackish water. It will use the MVRDV methodology to analyse the context, to study scale and typology and to produce a consistent project narrative. Finally, the Studio will address sustainability by means of the UN SDGs.

Students will reach a basic understanding of the Venetian context, particularly the relation between Venice and its lagoon. The Studio will offer multiple channels for learning and experiencing the city and the surrounding landscape. The chosen sites are the south-western edge of the island of Sant’Erasmo, the Islands of Vignole and Certosa, and the south-eastern edge of Venice (Sant’Elena).

The islands of Sant’Erasmo, Vignole, Certosa and Sant’Elena have a very close proximity to one another and it seems only natural to connect them and develop their unexplored potential. The Studio will assume a connection/route is already in place and the students will design three “halls” connected to the cycles of agriculture, food and fishing in the lagoon:

• on the Island of Sant’Erasmo, the students will plan a Market Hall where local producers will be able to display, sell and educate about their products;
• on the island of Vignole, traditionally a place with vineyards, the students will design a Wine Hall with the aim of educating about historical grapes and wine production;
• in Venice, the students will envision a Fish Hall to allow people to taste the lagoon’s products and flavours, a truer experience of the Venetian cuisine, in a very open and social context.

The three “stations” and their connecting route will constitute a new way to understand Venice and its lagoon, by foot, boat and even by bicycle. The Harvest Road is meant to become a new attraction for residents and mindful tourists.

Field Trips

A day trip to the islands of Mazzorbo, Sant’Erasmo, Vignole and Certosa. Motor boats will be used to reach the destinations:

Mazzorbo – students will learn about reviving forgotten grapes and wines of the lagoon at the Venissa resort;

Sant’Erasmo – students will move around by bicycle and will visit local farmers to learn about food production, hydroponic horticulture and typical Venetian products. In addition, there will be an architectural tour about the recent refurbishment of the island by C+S;

Vignole – students will walk around the islands and learn about their history and their present;

Certosa – students will walk around the island and learn about its history and its present at Vento di Venezia.

Internships

Are internships at MVRDV available to students of this studio?
Yes. Internship places are available

Locations Available:
Rotterdam, Berlin, Paris and Shanghai

Details:
Students accepted into the MVRDV Studio at Venice Studio are eligible for selection to undertake an internship at MVRDV. Selection of candidates is at the sole discretion of the studio directors and MVRDV. Places are not guaranteed.
*Please contact us at Venice Studio using the form below for further information about these opportunities.

MVRDV

MVRDV was founded in 1993 by Winy Maas, Jacob van Rijs and Nathalie de Vries. Based in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, the company has a global scope, providing solutions to contemporary architectural and urban issues in all regions of the world. It is a highly collaborative environment where architects, clients, stakeholders, and experts from a wide range of fields, come together during the creative process. The results are exemplary, outspoken projects that enable cities and landscapes to develop towards a better future.

The products of MVRDV’s unique approach to design vary, ranging from buildings of all types and sizes, to urban plans and visions, numerous publications, installations and exhibitions. Completed projects include the Netherlands Pavilion for the World EXPO 2000 in Hannover; the Market Hall, a combination of housing and retail in Rotterdam; the Pushed Slab, a sustainable office building in Paris’ first eco-district; Flight Forum, an innovative business park in Eindhoven; the Silodam Housing complex in Amsterdam; the Matsudai Cultural Centre in Japan; the Unterföhring office campus near Munich; the Lloyd Hotel in Amsterdam; the Ypenburg housing and urban plan in The Hague; the Didden Village rooftop housing extension in Rotterdam; the music centre De Effenaar in Eindhoven; the Gyre boutique shopping center in Tokyo; a public library in Spijkenisse; an international bank headquarters in Oslo, Norway; and the iconic Mirador and Celosia housing in Madrid.

The work of MVRDV is exhibited and published worldwide and has received numerous international awards. Two hundred and fifty architects, designers and urbanists develop projects in a multi-disciplinary, collaborative design process that involves rigorous technical and creative investigation.

Villa VPRO
Hilversum, Netherlands