David Chipperfield Architects have extensively renovated the Procuratie Vecchie, the oldest part of the Procuratie on St. Mark’s Square in Venice. At the same time, they created new rooms under the roof of the historic building, which will be open to the public in future.

David Chipperfield Architects have extensively renovated the Procuratie Vecchie, the oldest part of the Procuratie on St. Mark’s Square in Venice. At the same time, they created new rooms under the roof of the historic building, which will be open to the public in future.

Less than a year after completing the highly acclaimed restoration of the Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin, David Chipperfield Architects have completed the refurbishment of another highly significant building. A few days ago, the Procuratie Vecchie, the northern wing of the Procuratie on St. Mark’s Square in Venice, was opened to the public. This oldest part of the complex, which frames Piazza San Marco on three sides, is also one of the most important examples of Renaissance architecture in the city. The Florentine Jacopo Sansovino in particular, who took over the project begun by Bartolomeo Bon in 1517 in 1529, ensured that the High Renaissance, which was already in full bloom in Florence and Rome, also gained a foothold in Venice. The Procuratie Vecchie, however, still show the Venetian style of the Renaissance.

Less than a year after completing the highly acclaimed restoration of the Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin, David Chipperfield Architects have completed the refurbishment of another highly significant building. A few days ago, the Procuratie Vecchie, the northern wing of the Procuratie on St. Mark’s Square in Venice, was opened to the public. This oldest part of the complex, which frames Piazza San Marco on three sides, is also one of the most important examples of Renaissance architecture in the city. The Florentine Jacopo Sansovino in particular, who took over the project begun by Bartolomeo Bon in 1517 in 1529, ensured that the High Renaissance, which was already in full bloom in Florence and Rome, also gained a foothold in Venice. The Procuratie Vecchie, however, still show the Venetian style of the Renaissance.

The Generali insurance company has been based in the Procuratie Vecchie since 1831. The new company rented its first offices on St. Mark’s Square as early as the year it was founded. Today, the north wing of the Procuratie is fully owned by the insurance group. In 2017, David Chipperfield Architects were commissioned to comprehensively renovate the Procuratie Vecchie and at the same time adapt it to new usage requirements. A significant part of the renovations served the purpose of creating publicly accessible areas in the old Procuratie, which are used by the Generali Foundation “The Human Safety Net”. To this end, exhibition rooms, event areas, offices and an auditorium were created on the third floor of the Procuratie Vecchie.

The Generali insurance company has been based in the Procuratie Vecchie since 1831. The new company rented its first offices on St. Mark’s Square as early as the year it was founded. Today, the north wing of the Procuratie is fully owned by the insurance group. In 2017, David Chipperfield Architects were commissioned to comprehensively renovate the Procuratie Vecchie and at the same time adapt it to new usage requirements. A significant part of the renovations served the purpose of creating publicly accessible areas in the old Procuratie, which are used by the Generali Foundation “The Human Safety Net”. To this end, exhibition rooms, event areas, offices and an auditorium were created on the third floor of the Procuratie Vecchie.

The majority of the new rooms were created on the top floor of the building. As light had previously only reached here through small oculus windows in the Renaissance façade, David Chipperfield Architects inserted large skylights into the gently sloping roof surface. The brickwork was exposed on the walls and the rooms were connected with a representative enfilade.

The majority of the new rooms were created on the top floor of the building. As light had previously only reached here through small oculus windows in the Renaissance façade, David Chipperfield Architects inserted large skylights into the gently sloping roof surface. The brickwork was exposed on the walls and the rooms were connected with a representative enfilade.

To open up the newly designed top floor, the architects built a new staircase into the historic building. It is located between the courtyards of the Procuratie Vecchie in the center of the wing building. The staircase ends at the top in the new “Central Pavilion”, which David Chipperfield Architects inserted into the roofscape of the Procuratie. On the one hand, it brings light into the new staircase with its large windows. On the other hand, it provides access to the two large roof terraces – a typical Venetian element – that flank the pavilion.

To open up the newly designed top floor, the architects built a new staircase into the historic building. It is located between the courtyards of the Procuratie Vecchie in the center of the wing building. The staircase ends at the top in the new “Central Pavilion”, which David Chipperfield Architects inserted into the roof landscape of the Procuratie. On the one hand, it brings light into the new staircase with its large windows. On the other hand, it provides access to the two large roof terraces – a typical Venetian element – that flank the pavilion.

As far-reaching as the renovations to the Procuratie Vecchie are, David Chipperfield Architects attached great importance to working in the spirit of Venetian architecture. This is particularly evident in the surface materials used. The walls, for example, were plastered with Marmorino or given a scialbatura finish where they are not exposed to stone. The floors are made of terrazzo or pastellone. The door reveals of the newly broken passages are made of artificial stone. The exterior of the Cental Pavilion is painted using the cocciopesto technique. For the roof terraces, the architects chose paint made from ground terracotta tiles.

David Chipperfield Architects followed the findings even more meticulously than in Venice when renovating the Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin.

As far-reaching as the renovations to the Procuratie Vecchie are, David Chipperfield Architects attached great importance to working in the spirit of Venetian architecture. This is particularly evident in the surface materials used. The walls, for example, were plastered with Marmorino or given a scialbatura finish where they are not exposed to stone. The floors are made of terrazzo or pastellone. The door reveals of the newly broken passages are made of artificial stone. The exterior of the Cental Pavilion is painted using the cocciopesto technique. For the roof terraces, the architects chose paint made from ground terracotta tiles.

David Chipperfield Architects followed the findings even more meticulously than in Venice when renovating the Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin.

Passages that meet the requirements for accessibility, escape routes and fire protection are a challenge for planners. The manufacturer Hörmann offers the “AS30-X/FR” for this purpose.

A particular challenge for architects and planners are passageways that meet the requirements for accessibility, escape routes and fire protection and must also support a bright and glazed design. The manufacturer Hörmann offers the “AS30-X/FR”, a combination of the “AD 100-X” automatic sliding door and the “HE 321” fire door with T30 aluminum tubular frame elements.

In normal or daytime operation, the tubular frame elements are open and the automatic sliding door acts as an escape route. In emergency and night mode, the sliding door opens automatically and remains open. The tubular frame elements close automatically and prevent the spread of fire, but can be opened using the lever handle so that the passage can be used as an escape route in an emergency. The system also has burglar-resistant RC 2 equipment and insulates sound in the building.