Venice, Italy
Designed by Thomas Coldefy, “Tropiclia” is an international architecture event collecting architecture, materials, innovative systems and is held as the collateral event of the 17th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia.
Curated by Maria Caterina Denora of Zuecca Projects, “Tropicalia – Architecture, Materials, Innovative Systems” showcases emblematic tropical fauna and flora, the architectural and engineering specificities of Tropicalia greenhouse, and its unique sustainable air treatment engineering.
Tropicalia is the largest single-dome greenhouse on the planet.
Visitors will be plunged into a tropical atmosphere, a unique and marvelous natural bubble under its crystal skin, with stunning colored butterflies and fluttering hummingbirds waltzing from flower to flower.
The show is sensual, exciting, idyllic and, above all, will soon be real. In 2024, the biggest greenhouse in the world will be constructed on the Côte d’Opale (France) to offer an immersive experience, discovering extraordinary fauna and flora, and understanding its fragile ecosystem.
Tropicalia contains 20,000 sqm of tropic covered by an innovative dome rising to 35 meters, 26 degrees ventilated temperature, luxuriant vegetation bathed by an exceptional light, a tropical forest adorned with the most beautiful orchids, birds, butterflies, fishes, reptiles gathered into a unique eco-system.
Tropicalia’s architecture is completely integrated with its natural exterior environment.
Unlike a “megastructure”, the building does not create a break with its environment but integrates it and welcomes its fauna and flora. Its dome has been conceived to answer several challenges: optimal thermal isolation with the conception of a double dome, an energy self-sufficiency thanks to the Terraotherm innovation, all the heat produced by the greenhouse’s effect will be recycled and stocked.
The surplus energy will be exported via a heat network into buildings and surrounding businesses.
Illustrated by architectural model, drawings, sketches, videos and diverse working and presentation materials, the exhibition transmits an environmental and educational message: it shows how science can answer the question “How will we live together?”, the title of Biennale Architettura 2021 curated by Hashim Sarkis.
The visitor will discover the engineering and architectural prowess and uniqueness of Tropicalia greenhouse, as well, several sustainable and innovative systems and materials developed in the architecture projects by Coldefy.
During the exhibition period, space will also host conferences with relevant figures of the Architecture world, to investigate and discuss the themes and challenges that arise by Tropicalia.
The exhibition is hosted at Squero Castello (Salizada Streta 368, Castello 30122, Venice), from May 22nd to November 21st, 2021 (pre-opening May 20th and 21st).
Project: “Tropicalia – Architecture, Materials, Innovative Systems”
Architects: Coldefy & Associés Architects and Urban Planners
Design Team: Thomas Coldefy, Elisabeth Girot, Martin Mercier, Marianna Guarino, Jerica Puterle, and Alissa James
Client: Zuecca Projects
