This project will focus on an urban design proposal and the adaptive reuse of a historical structure in Venice, Italy. The first part emphasizes urban and architectural research, studying typologies, patterns, and precedents that define Venice’s identity. The second phase will involve creating a new neighborhood design for Santa Elena using a “reverse engineering” approach to Venetian zoning codes, incorporating contemporary life safety and accessibility standards.

In the final phase, we adapted a historical warehouse into a contemporary art museum. The challenge of this adaptive reuse project lies in balancing the building’s historical significance with introducing a new architectural personality. The design, SEMA, pushes the boundaries of Venice’s architecture, featuring spaces for artists and glass modules that highlight the dynamic and flexible nature of the artist’s work. We were tasked with creating sustainable, accessible, and code-compliant designs, exploring various forms of visual and oral communication throughout the process.