OMA restores 16th century fondaco dei tedeschi in venice

in 2009, the benetton family commissioned OMA to transform ‘fondaco dei tedeschi’ — a 16th century building on the banks of venice’s grand canal — into a department store and public space. seven years later, the restoration project is now complete and has been handed over to hong kong-based firm DFS to outfit the interior for retail use.

first constructed in 1228, and located at the foot of the rialto bridge, the historic structure is one of venice’s largest and most recognizable buildings. over the past 788 years, the site has been used as a trading post for german merchants, a customs house under napoleon, and a post office under mussolini. depicted by painter canaletto and other masters, the fondaco was twice destroyed by fire before being rebuilt in its current form in 1506. the structure was then manipulated further in in the 18th century, and then subject to a series of radical architectural interventions in the 20th century to accommodate its role as a central post office under the fascist regime. in 1987, the building was listed as a monument, forbidding any major architectural changes.

all images by delfino sisto legnani and marco cappelletti © OMA

OMA’s renovation is based on a number of strategic interventions and vertical distribution devices that support the new program while defining a sequence of public spaces and circulation routes. ‘each intervention is conceived as an excavation through the existing mass, liberating new perspectives and unveiling the real substance of the building to its visitors, as an accumulation of authenticities,’ explains the design team.

the building forms a department store and public space

the project opens the courtyard to pedestrians at ground level, maintaining its historical role of covered public space. a new rooftop is created by the renovation of the existing 19th century pavilion, standing over a new steel and glass floor which hovers above the central void, and by the addition of a large wooden terrace with views across the city. the rooftop, together with the courtyard below, form new public venues, open to the city and accessible at all times.

the design seeks to demystify the ‘sacred image of a historical building’

new entrances to the building are created, while existing access points have been retained. meanwhile, escalators have been added to create a public route through the building. individual rooms are consolidated in a way that respects the original sequential layout, with historic elements like the corner rooms left untouched. furthermore, some aspects of the original building have been restored. for example, the walls of the gallerias once again host frescoes that reappear in contemporary form.

escalators have been added to create a public route through the building

the project, which was led by ippolito pestellini laparelli, rem koolhaas and silvia sandor, seeks to demystify the ‘sacred image of a historical building’. the contemporary department store has been designed to stage a range of activities, from shopping to cultural events, social gatherings and everyday life. rather than a nostalgic reconstruction project, the restoration continues the fondaco’s tradition of vitality and adaptation, adding another chapter to the building’s incomparable history.

individual rooms are consolidated in a way that respects the scheme’s original sequential layout

in 1987, the building was listed as a monument — forbidding any major architectural changes

new entrances to the building have been created

a new rooftop is created by the renovation of the existing 19th century pavilion

looking upwards from the covered piazza

the renovation is based on a number of strategic interventions and vertical distribution devices

the contemporary department store has been designed to stage a range of activities

a large wooden terrace provides views across the city

the building is located next to venice’s famous rialto bridge

the 16th century building is located on the banks of venice’s grand canal

1/16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

project info:

name: il fondaco dei tedeschi
project: renovation of the 16th century fondaco dei tedeschi
status: completed
client: edizione s.r.l.
location: venice, italy
site: sestiere san marco, 5339-5349, 5562
program: 9,000 sqm department store and public space
partners: rem koolhaas, ippolito pestellini laparelli
project architects: francesco moncada, silvia sandor

concept
associate: ippolito pestellini laparelli
team: marco de battista, andrew chau, paul feeney, alice grégoire, ricardo guedes, andreas kofler, kayoko ota, pietro pagliaro, miriam roure parera, carlos pena, ciprian rasoiu, agustin pérez torres

design development
project architects: francesco moncada, silvia sandor
team: giacomo ardesio, paul feeney, alice grégoire, ricardo guedes, giulio margheri, pietro pagliaro, cecilia del pozo, ciprian rasoiu, jan de ruyver, miguel taborda

construction
project architect: silvia sandor
team: aleksandar joksimovic, leonardos katsaros, francesco moncada, federico pompignoli

collaborators
preservation architect: TA architettura s.r.l.
structural engineer: tecnobrevetti s.r.l.
MEP engineer: politecnica ingegneria e architettura
safety and coordination plan: antonio girello
fire safety advisor: sicurtecno
cost consultant dd phase: GAD
contractor: SACAIM s.p.a.
lighting: viabizzuno
photography: delfino sisto legnani, marco cappelletti (courtesy of OMA)

Save

Save