Venice, Italy

“Repairing, reunifying, and adapting the many layers of this historic structure has been a highly complex and rewarding challenge that reconnects us to the power of architecture both as physical substance and as a process of collaboration,” states David Chipperfield.

“We look forward to seeing the building re-embed itself into the city, supporting Venice as a living place of activity and innovation.”

David Chipperfield Architects have completed the astonishing renovation of the historic 16th-Century Procuratie Vecchie in Piazza San Marco for Generali Real Estate, one of the most relevant works of 16th century Italian Renaissance architecture, makes sense of the many modifications that had been made over the years.

As one of the city’s most famous buildings, it runs 152 meters along the northern edge of St. Mark’s Square and features a portico of 50 arches, 100 windows on the two upper floors and 100 oval oculi below decorative crenelations.

The ancient building’s arched façade runs the full length of the square’s northwest side.

The Procuratie Vecchie was once home to the Procurators of Saint Mark, who, in addition to being senior city officials, were also responsible for looking after the poor and needy of Venice. 

Staying true to its original mission, the Procuratie Vecchie now fulfills these ambitions on a global scale. 

Today, it is a hub for people who are passionate about empowering the most vulnerable in society all around the world.

The building is now occupied almost entirely by Italian insurance company Generali, who entrusted DCA’s Milan office to carefully unpick and make sense of the many modifications that had been made over the years.

The 16th-Century architecture is defined by its ordered façade of arches and loggias, which, of course, has remained untouched during this recovery project. 

Beyond being one of the most recognizable squares in the world, Piazza San Marco is an extraordinary and explicit demonstration of ordered public space. T

The Procuratie Vecchie, which developed along the entire north side of the square, was designed by the architect Bartolomeo Bon and later by Jacopo Sansovino in the first half of the sixteenth century, under the renovatio urbis program of Doge Andrea Gritti. It established the classical language adopted by the subsequent developments in the square.

The commission from the Italian insurance company Generali, a company that began its life in these buildings, is to both renovate, unpick and make sense of generations of modification and practical adaptation, and to bring the buildings into a more engaged relationship with the city. 

The proposals will facilitate the activities of The Human Safety Net, a charitable arm of Generali while, for the first time in 500 years, a large part of the Procuratie Vecchie will be made accessible to the public.

The project is not defined by a single concept or architectural gesture, but by a series of interventions that address the complexity of the work. 

These include the restoration of the first and second floors, the reorganization of accessibility and usability of the building through the inclusion of new staircases, and the renewed central entrance on the third floor with access to the raised courtyards. 

The first of the contemporary interventions—a new reception—can be glimpsed from inside one of the building’s inner courtyards.

Not defined by one single concept, the architects describe the project as a series of interventions. 

These include new vertical circulation routes designed to enhance accessibility. 

One of the new sculptural white staircases connects to the existing one, creating a beautiful meeting point between past and present. 

The biggest changes to the building can be seen on the third floor, which sits in the attic under the roof.

The third floor includes exhibition spaces open to the public and linked to The Human Safety Net, as well as workspaces and an auditorium.

As for the materials, the team sought not to impose but rather to inherit, looking to ancient, local, and traditional construction techniques and making use of Venice’s artisanal craftsmanship. 

While onsite, they uncovered the existing timber roof, which had previously been hidden by a false ceiling. 

The century-old trusses are now left exposed in all their imperfect beauty. 

The architects also left the original brick walls intact but covered them with a whitewash called scialbatura. 

Meanwhile, pastellone and marmorino have been utilized in the main circulation core to create a creamy white space.

“We have come to better understand the hidden complexities that have accumulated behind the grand public façade of the Procuratie Vecchie. In adapting the building to accommodate a more public program for The Human Safety Net, we are continuing this story of its evolution, carefully balancing new infrastructural requirements with restoration and refurbishment of the historic fabric. The project is driven by the dual ambition of re-unifying the building as an architectural work and re-instating its role as a place of work, meeting, and discussion for the city,” continues Chipperfield.

Interventions on the Procuratie Vecchie followed a process conducted in collaboration with the Archaeological, Fine Arts, and Landscape Heritage Department of Venice and the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Tourism.

Project: Procuratie Vecchie Renovation
Architects: David Chipperfield Architects Ltd.
Original Architects: Mauro Coduss, Bartolomeo Bon Jacopo Sansovino (1517-1538)
Partner in Charge of Design: David Chipperfield and Giuseppe Zampieri 
Associate Director for Design: Cristiano Billia
Design Associates: Adolfo Berardozzi, Andrea Cocco, and Carlo Zucchia
Design Team: Simone Diego Alessi, Federica Amoruso, Thomas Benk, Corrado Bongiorno, Cecilia Bottoni, Niccolò Brussa, Teresa Cancellari, Marta Capacciola, Francesca Carino, Filippo Carcano, Francesca Carino, Carlo Federico Cattò, Fabiano Cocozza, Maria Elena Codazzi, Paolo Dell‘Elce, Stefano Goffi, Tsukasa Goto, Samuel Lodetti, Eugenio Matteazzi, Tommaso Meena, Daniel Mira García, Sofia Nobis, Brigid O’Donnell, Stefano Penazzi, Matthijs Sioen, Tiziana Staffieri, Davide Tassera, Federico Turelli, Wouter Verstraete, and Maria Chiara Virgili
Competition Team: Cosmin Amato, Pietro Bagnoli, Corrado Bongiorno, Cecilia Bottoni, Filippo Carcano, Carlo Federico Cattò, Tommaso Certo, Fabiano Cocozza, Maria Elena Codazzi, Federica Corrà, Paolo Dell‘Elce, Tsukasa Goto, Nicola Guercilena, Seunggeun Jee, Chiara Lippi, Eugenio Matteazzi, Gabriele Pagani, Paolo Volpetti, and Federica Zerbo 
David Chipperfield Architects Berlin: Thomas Benk, Anke Fritzsch, and Christopher Jonas
Consultants: Zero4Uno Ingegneria srl, Venice, Italy: Romeo Scarpa and Franco Gazzarri Architetto, Mestre, Italy
Façade Consultants: Konrad Runggaldier
Lighting Consultants: Viabizzuno, Bentivoglio (Bologna), Italy: Giacomo Coppe, Francesco Finetti, Mario Nanni, Giulia Pulga
Client: Generali Real Estate SpA – SGR
Photographers: Richard Davies, Alberto Parise, and Alessandra Chemollo