Restauro della Scultura
Project
Situated in the Dorsoduro district to the south of Venice, the museum occupies the historic Magazinni Del Sale, a former salt warehouse. During the height of Venetian power, salt held immense importance for its ability to preserve food during long-distance transportation. To capitalise on this, the Doge of Venice instituted a salt tax, contributing to wealth accumulation and establishing a monopoly on this prized mineral. The Magazinni Del Sale, comprising nine long, narrow lots with diverse purposes, underwent a transformation initiated by Renzo Piano. The initial lot now functions as a permanent art gallery. The museum’s mission encompasses the restoration of sculptures within designated rooms and the exhibition of completed sculptures generously donated to the museum.
Within the museum, an auditorium stands as a dynamic space, serving as a hub for engaging discussions and insightful demonstrations of the intricacies of restoration techniques. Two workshops where the restoration process occurs are integrated into the museum’s design, allowing the public a glimpse into the restoration craft through large glazed panels. These panels offer an unobstructed view of the restoration activities, transforming the restoration rooms into transparent workshops visible to all museum visitors.
Notably, the main restoration workshop has a double-height space to allow for work on large-scale sculptures. This design choice enhances the sense of spatial openness and affords visitors the vantage point of observing the restoration process from elevated platform.
