EN // Porto Marghera is one of the most extraordinary under changing areas in Europe. Its exceptionality comes from its dimension, which makes it one of the largest industrial compound in Italy, and above all from its position in front of Venice.
Born at the beginning of the Twentieth Century, Marghera has hosted a petrochemical hub important for the history of our country, and many other settlements which have left on the field extraordinary pieces of industrial archaeology but also pollution, dangerous wastes and recently various new functions.
Its relationship with Mestre became more and more problematic because of the presence of barriers such as the railways and the viaducts, weighed down by an increasing tourist traffic. But it is especially in the relation with Venice, that Marghera will play its future. Venice looked and still looks at its chimneys and its gasometers like they are a testimony of danger but also of modernity. Venice, which is looked by Marghera as a dream background, seen by an exceptional overlook.
The industrial city looks at the historical city and vice versa, and the two cities are kept away from the water of the lagoon, which in both cases, enters between their buildings and makes porous the land on which they stand.
W.A.Ve. is again facing the topic of Porto Marghera in a particular moment. 2017 marks the 100th Anniversary of the industrial hub, so in this last year, the interest in its future is increasing without measures, producing ideas, plans and design projects. Iuav University for many years is dealing with this area: with courses, design Thesis and researches.
On two occasions already, dozens of architects from all over the world have faced these challenges which maybe wouldn’t be so extraordinary if they weren’t in front of the most famous historic city of the world. Architects from all over Europe, Americas, Australia, Africa, Asia, have committed their ability to imagine a future for this place, producing dozens of proposals and design projects which investigated every issue.
This year, in addition to proposing various design themes inside the large industrial area and on its edges, we ask to all participants to provide us, together with partial solutions, a vision for the whole area.
It will be a special occasion to measure the most important venetian topic in a time in which Marghera conversion becomes possible.
Alberto Ferlenga