STUDIO
HERZOG & DE MEURON
Venice 25
Location
Venice, Italy
Year
2025
Program
Public Space & Bridge Design
Team Leaders
Martin Knüsel (Partner, Herzog & de Meuron)
Milou Teeling (Associate, Herzog & de Meuron)
Team
Joseph Glatz (University at Buffalo, USA)
Agrima Manglik (CEPT University, India)
Prachi Bedia (CEPT University, India)
Anna Shishkina (Delft University of Technology, Netherlands)
Gyan Praharsh Leburu (CEPT University, India)
Long Kiu Jennifer Lui (University of Melbourne, Australia)
Lea Vanlian (Politecnico di Torino, Italy)
Mohamed Emara (Alexandria University, Egypt)
Xena Barakat (Politecnico di Torino, Italy)
Diego Satkofsky (University of Melbourne, Australia)
Alec Rosen (Tulane University, USA)
Nicole Girdo (City College of New York, USA)
Erminia Cirillo (La Sapienza University of Rome, Italy)
Lauren Stegman (The University of Queensland, Australia)
May Bou Khazen (Istituto Europeo di Design, Spain)
Project
Venezia Accessibile 2.0
Venice has a unique network of 150 canals and 435 bridges. Water is mostly overcome by arch structures, with stair steps following up and down the curvature of the arch. How to make this city with thousands of stair steps accessible for all? Is it even possible? And can this challenge be more than a functional fulfillment, can it be done in a nice way? Can we turn around the constraints and use them as a source of inspiration? Can we use the requirements to explore new spatial potential in the form of an accessible topography? And is it possible for new programs to arise out of this exercise? Above all, how do we identify the bridges that could make the city more accessible?
In recent years, the city has begun to improve accessibility by providing stair alterations in the form of ramps. These purely functional structures are perceived as temporary, add-on elements and in strong contrast with the existing context.
In the first week, we will analyze and categorize bridges in the different neighborhoods. Exchanges with various experts in the field of accessibility and historic preservation will help us to understand Venice from a new angle. We will also look at built examples where transitory spaces like stairs and ramps are exploited to create a strong architectural identity. After identifying points of intervention within Venice, we will develop several design proposals during the second week.
Towards the end of the program, we will consolidate the work to present to the local authorities and test the outcome of our studies.
Herzog & de Meuron is an international architectural practice based in Basel, Switzerland. Established in 1978, the practice is led by the two founders together with the Partners and the CEO. Today, an international team of over 500 collaborators is engaged in a wide range of projects across Europe, the Americas and Asia. The main office in Basel works in tandem with studios in Berlin and Munich, Paris, London, Hong Kong, New York, and San Francisco.
