MAP studio

Cultural Centre inside an ancient crane | The Porta Nuova Tower dates from the first half of XIX century, is placed at the entrance by water on the north side of the dock Novissima at the Arsenale of Venice.

Porta Nuova Tower designed and built as a machine for putting main masts on vessels, falls into disuse because of the changing technologies of naval engineering.
The aim of the project – winner of the design competition launched in 2006 by the Arsenale di Venezia Spa – is to ensure the conservation and enhancement of the spatiality of the historic building, combining the needs arising from the insertion of new features to turn it into a cultural center.

The building is tripartite in its interior: at the ground floor are organized spaces for the reception and a conference room. At the first floor is placed the exhibition area. At different levels are organized mezzanine for new offices.

The project recognizes and interprets as typological and structural characteristics, the unity and the continuity of vertical space that is generated from the first floor.
The partitions defines the new distribution and volumes necessary for hosting the main plant equipment are made as separate and recognizable elements in comparison with the original structures. The lift systems are always volumetrically independent of the existing bricked walls. The materials used (exposed concrete, fiber cement panels for the flooring, sheets of waxed cor-ten steel) are always dialoguing in contrasted texture and pattern with existing ones.