Philippe Starck unveils Dream of Winter Gondola for Venice canals

French designer and architect Philippe Starck, a resident of Burano for 50 years, has designed Dream of Winter Gondola, a futuristic covered gondola for Venice's canals. Commissioned by Marco Balich of VeniSIA—a business accelerator under Venezia Capitale Mondiale della Sostenibilità, supported by the Veneto Region and the Italian Government—the vessel features a bio-resin hull and oar made from black algae laminate, a Corning Gorilla Glass cabin with hydrophobic coating, a sliding roof, and a gyroscopic stabilizer powered by solar energy and tidal hydrogeneration. The interior includes a sofa upholstered in Sant'Erasmo apple 'leather' and bamboo compressed wood for the rowlocks. A 3D rendering of the gondola will enter the collection of Ca' Foscari University. Starck described the traditional gondola as 'one of the most complex boats in the world' and called the project 'pure magic.' The designer is known for works like the Juicy Salif citrus squeezer for Alessi, the Gun Lamp for Flos, and a 142-meter superyacht. His portfolio also includes eco-friendly designs such as the Elise office bin and the Zartan chair made from bio and recycled materials.