Restoring Palazzo Nervi-Scattolin: Interview with Architect Martina Chiarato

Architect Martina Chiarato, co-founder of Archetipo Architetti Associati in Marcon (Venice), led the restoration of Palazzo Nervi-Scattolin in Venice. The building, designed by Pier Luigi Nervi (structures) and Angelo Scattolin (architecture) with decorative elements by sculptor Simon Benetton (bronze gate), required a delicate balance between conservation and adaptation to new functional needs. Chiarato studied original drawings to understand the interplay of engineering and architecture, discovering that apparent decorative elements like steel mullions actually serve structural roles. The building was in excellent condition, needing only minor adjustments. A suspected subsidence of the mezzanine floor was found to be a normal differential movement between the flexible steel-and-wood mezzanine and the rigid reinforced concrete curb. The palace features a dual facade that dialogues with two different squares (Campo San Luca and Campo Manin), integrating modern architecture into Venice's historic fabric through traditional elements reinterpreted in a modern key, such as Murano glass tiles and wrought iron. The restoration project is documented in a book published by Skira in 2020.