WORKSHOP ARCHITETTURA VENEZIA
From the 2nd to 20th of July, the Institute of Architecture of Venice (IUAV) held its annual student workshop with as guest of honor: the architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte.
During three weeks, 2000 1st to 3rd year students, grouped into 30 studios were guided by a number of international architects in their reflection relating to projects of rehabilitation in the city of Venice and its surroundings.
In the studio led by Jean-Michel Wilmotte, 68 students worked on the conversion of a disaffected gasometer into a hotel.
The intention of the studio was to strengthen the students' sensibility regarding the memory of the site and its inherent complexity: the vestiges of an industrial centre, across from the church of San Francesco della Vigna, whose façade is attributed to Andrea Palladio.
Jean-Michel Wilmotte with Borina Andrieu as tutor, managed to inspire and motivate the students during the weekly revisions with great passion. Lorenzo Gaetani and Marc Zerkaulen assisted the students in their work during the three weeks on a day by day base and organized the collective exhibition at the end of the workshop.
The resulting 26 projects reflect a considerable creativity, as well as a wide variety of approaches.
Honored by the jury, the studio led by Jean-Michel Wilmotte received a special mention for the high quality of the individual student projects presented.
The model made by the studio's group 24 (Sebastiano Barberi, Nicolò Pantani and Gianmarco Zanguio) was selected among the 2000 created with 19 other models to be exposed in a collective exhibition during the Architectural Biennale of Venice.
RE-GENERATION VENEZIA
"Over the last four years we have worked to establish the Foundation in Venice. We have had our ups and downs on our journey, it is not easy to become established in the City of 'Doges'.
Among the les professore, dottore, ingeniere, commercialista, consulente, specialista, permessi: an obstacle course, but with neive, unaware willpower, with our conviction, we have given wings to the foundation. Among the workman and archaeologist, the acoustician and the « cartongesso » specialist, the local plasterboard, the electrician, the plumber and the local legislation, the obstacles were not in shortage.
Several years later, the place was born ... and the worries disappeared the present reality erased a past temporarily high in tension. Today the space, the light, the details, are here, ready to welcome the exceptional project.
- Exhibitions of the Foundation competition winners, exhibition of artists who work with the themes of, architecture and landscape architecture.
- Meetings, presentations and book signings.
- Avant-première and architectural events
The program will be extremely varied and inspired by the new locality.
At present I would like to speak about the 'cru' 2012. Venice was evident, with numerous possibilities. We had a fixed idea of an old warehouse near to « Giardini », the location seemed to me to be ideal to welcome a new housing development, cultural spaces, commerce. In fact, today regeneration is vital for an industrial area, the balance is modified and the young architects must become more aware and prepare the future with contemporary designs to dialogue with existing buildings.
For this new edition of the Prize W, I am content to be here in Venice, and that the competition was held in this magic city. Usually when we think about Venice, we first think about Palaces along the Grand Canal, and not about industrial heritage.
But Venice is a city with many faces, an intimate and surprising city that can only be revealed when wandering around.
And thanks to the Mayor Mr. Giorgio Orsoni, and his wonderful team from the Department of Urbanism headed by Mr. Ezio Micelli, we found this place. I extend my warm gratitude to them all.
Obviously, the subject was difficult. Thus I am all the more proud that once again, young architects have managed to find creative and highly varied solutions.
This year the jury was of a very high quality and extremely demanding. Sovereign, it has chosen to retain only fifteen projects to be published.
The Foundation exists to support young talent, so I want to thank all participants who followed us in this new adventure, and I do hope to see many more of you for the next edition."
Jean-Michel WILMOTTE
Informations pratiques:
RE-GENERATION VENEZIA:
The award winners of the Prize W 2012
Exhibition 08.29.2012 - 11.25.2012
Fondaco degli angeli - Cannareggio 3560
Vaporetto : Ca'D'Oro ou Madonna dell'Orto
10:30 - 19:00 (closed on mondays)
Download access map (pdf)
www.fondation-entreprise-wilmotte.fr
Contacts
Borina Andrieu | + 33 (0) 6 85 39 43 23
borina.andrieu@wilmotte.fr
Riccardo Capuzzo | +39 328 855 8710
ricardo.capuzzo@wilmotte.fr
Agnès Diakite Floucault | +33 (0) 1 53 02 22 22
fondaco@wilmotte.fr
Promoting the grafting of heritage and modernity
Inventing a contemporary language for our architectural heritage
Updating history, giving roots to modernity... Dreaming up the architecture of tomorrow whilst conserving the diversity of our cultural heritage... Making our history come alive, associating cutting-edge materials and technology to constructions of the past... Promoting the transmission of skills and knowledge, and assisting the emergence of new generations of artists...
... so many dreams today calling for the bringing together of experiences and energies into a shared endeavour and a common ambition for tomorrow.
The creation of the Wilmotte Foundation is the natural extension of the work and ambition of some five hundred architects, interior designers and city planners that have sought over the years at the Wilmotte practice to enrich our heritage by proposing subtle rearticulation or innovative creations to constructions of the past.
In thirty years, they have constructed a network of intellectual and aesthetic affinities all over the world that will constitute the hallmark and character of the Wilmotte Foundation.
Wishing today to share these experiences, the Wilmotte Foundation will seek to promote and develop its idea of architectural grafting as an elegant marriage of heritage and contemporary creation, and hopes to act as a bridge between apprenticeship and reflection, teaching and action.
The Foundation aims to help detect and support young talents, to encourage the diffusion of our European architectural culture and to promote comprehension and build passages between architecture, heritage and contemporary creation.
