Venice APPLY NOW
June 30 – July 11, 2025
STUDIO
MVRDV
Women & Children’s Centre, Shenzhen, China. 2023
Studio Details
Location
Venice, Italy
Date
30 June-11 July, 2025
Studio Directors in Venice
Lorenzo Mattozzi (Associate Architect, MVRDV)
Cosimo Scotucci (Senior Project Leader, MVRDV)
Studio Project
Public building, museum, public space, landscape design, infrastructure design, playground design, urban refurbishment
Field Trips and Site Visits
A day trip to Lazzaretto Vecchio Island via private transportation to experience the island’s natural landscape and gain insights into Venice’s pre-paved historical environment.
Additional visits include: 1. Procuratie Vecchie: Explore the goals of the Human Safety Net and its newly renovated, child-friendly spaces. 2. Fortuny Museum: Visit one of Venice’s most extraordinary museums. 3. Fortuny Factory: Discover Venice’s last existing fabric factory and learn about the importance of color and its symbolism in design.
Studio Project
This studio seeks to explore the potential of public spaces in Venice, reimagining them as vibrant hubs for gathering, play, and green spaces. The primary aim is to modernize and enhance services specifically designed for children on Lazzaretto Vecchio Island and along the Lido waterfront. Lazzaretto Vecchio, situated in the central lagoon of Venice, spans approximately 2.5 hectares, with 8,500 square meters occupied by buildings. This island holds significant historical and monumental heritage, and since 2000, it has been earmarked as the future site of the National Archaeological Museum of the Venetian Lagoon.
Students will develop a foundational understanding of Venice, focusing on the relationship between the city, its citizens, and public spaces. The Studio will provide diverse approaches for experiencing and analyzing Venice’s unique urban landscape.
Lazzaretto Vecchio is notable for being the first lazzaretto (quarantine hospital) in the world, established in 1423 for those afflicted by the plague. The island’s name, initially Nazaretum in dedication to Santa Maria di Nazareth, evolved into Lazzaretto. Over time, the island’s facilities expanded, and during archaeological excavations, mass graves from the plagues of the 16th and 17th centuries were discovered. In the mid-19th century, the island became a military warehouse, leading to the demolition of several ancient structures. Following its use as a municipal dog shelter until 1995, extensive restoration efforts were launched in the 2000s to transform the island into the National Archaeological Museum of the Venetian Lagoon. As of 2020, new funding was allocated for further restoration and the continuation of the museum project.
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.
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Internships
Students accepted into the MVRDV Studio at Venice Studio may be considered for available internship or job opportunities at MVRDV. Selection of candidates is at the sole discretion of the studio director and MVRDV. Places are not guaranteed.