David Chipperfield Architects to Restore Venice's Procuratie Vecchie

David Chipperfield Architects Milan has received dual authorization to begin restoration of the Procuratie Vecchie in Piazza San Marco, Venice. The project, commissioned by Generali after winning a competition in 2017, aims to revitalize the historic building with a focus on public accessibility and social function. The first two floors will house offices and Generali's headquarters, while the third floor will be home to The Human Safety Net foundation, featuring workspaces, an auditorium, and exhibition spaces. The ground floor remains commercial and is excluded from the intervention. The architectural approach emphasizes a plurality of small interventions rather than a single grand gesture, incorporating traditional Venetian craftsmanship such as terrazzo, pastellone, marmorino, and scialbatura. The adjacent Giardini Reali will also be restored in partnership with Venice Gardens Foundation, with completion expected by autumn 2019. Philippe Donnet, Group CEO of Generali, stated the project's goal is to create jobs not tied to tourism and to open the building to the community.