Laguna Viva is integral to the long-term strategy whereby Palazzo delle Zattere engage with the complexities of everyday life in Venice.
V-A-C Foundation commissioned London based collective Assemble, who work across the fields of architecture, design and art, to develop a long-term project for the garden and indoor area where the Foundation’s new bar and restaurant SudEst 1401, is located. Assemble’s aim was to create an environment that would both reveal and actively involve the city so they turned to this organisation to work with them on the project.
The new, free to access, permanent outdoor installation will enhance the ongoing conversation about the intimate and mutually dependent relationship between Venice and its context. The typical lagoon salt marsh habitat is arranged according to botanical associations and functional morphology and housed in three large tanks, which at the end of the year will be covered in special tiles created by Assemble at Granby Workshop, a social enterprise in Liverpool.
The Lagoon tanks build on the successful experiment by Jane da Mosto with muf art/architecture for the British Pavilion at the 12th Architecture Biennale. The installation is open every day (8am – 11pm), independently of the V-A-C Foundation art exhibition timetable, and welcomes visitors to the foundation, resident artists, restaurant clients and local residents. These microcosms will also become a resource for research and teaching on ecological resilience and the natural systems that underpin the survival of the city.
Responses from the public have been overwhelming and highly encouraging. Above all, Venetian citizens have expressed surprise at finding this homage to the lagoon – the neglected lifeline to Venice’s existence, glorious past and future survival – at the heart of a prestigious international cultural institution. The response of the plants to their new location is just as positive, despite having to adjust to a different, artificial water circulation system.
Scientific advisor for the project is Lorenzo Bonometto and horticultural support is provided by Vivai De Sero. The outdoor space was executed in collaboration with lighting designers Michael Grubb Studio, APML Architects, Studio Grava Environmental Engineers and Beppi Mazzon Structural Engineer, with support and advice from muf art/architecture, Valentine Clays and Barbara Pastor.
Ceramic rewiew 08.09.2019 Ceramics and environmental activism: Laguna Viva
Colin Martin visits the permanent encaustic tile installation at the V-A-C Foundation in Venice, to discover more about the background of the tiles and their manufacture in Liverpool
The article speaks about the collaboration between Assemble and WahV and the process of developping a long-term strategy to enable the V-A-C Foundation to engage with locals and tourists on the complexities of everyday life in Venice.
Dowload here the full article.
Artist Statement
Jane da Mosto (We are here Venice) – installation concept and plan
Our catchphrase has always been “Venezia e’ Laguna” (Venice is the Lagoon) so on behalf of We are here Venice, I jumped at this opportunity to bring the richness of the lagoon back into the heart of Venice. By seeing this habitat close-up, it becomes obvious how the health of the lagoon is vital to safeguarding this precious city. This installation builds on a collaboration with muf architecture/art in 2010 that continues to this day and heartfelt thanks are also due to my trusted team: Lorenzo Bonometto and Filippo De Sero, with whom the original British Pavilion/Biennale salt marsh tank was executed, now in the form of a permanent installation. While the distinctive flora changes throughout the year it remains fascinating at all times and we sincerely hope the different types of visitor to Palazzo alle Zattere will find the flowers, crabs and butterflies as intriguing as we do.
Read the full press release HERE
A selection of media coverage:
Rachel Spence wrote about Laguna Viva in the Financial Times, read the full article here
Rovigo in Diretta: writes of the enormous educational value of Laguna Viva and the craftsmanship involved in the recreating the delicate, living environment of the Venetian lagoon, read the full article in Italian here.
The September/October issue of Architecture New Zealand featured Laguna Viva in their review of the Biennale here: Architecture New Zealand: Up on the roof in Venice.
Coverage in Wallpaper magazine:
See the mention in the Evening Standard:
Media Coverage in la Nuova di Venezia:
The Times also featured WahV and Laguna Viva in their coverage of the Biennale:
Cat Bauer, writes about Laguna Viva in The Venice Blog – Venetian Cat on 18 June 2018:
“The palace faces an impressive view of the Giudecca Canal, and now the garden in the back has been transformed into a very cool eatery called “sudest 1401,” enhanced by a new installation entitled “Laguna Viva“…
Assemble and WahV have created an enchanting mini lagoon, complete with salt marshes, in two tanks inside the garden. It is really remarkable … “
Visit the blog to read the full write-up here
