Casa Sanlorenzo, a creative hub dedicated to Sanlorenzo’s artistic and cultural initiatives, has ‘launched’ in Venice. The opening of the restored building – a Sanlorenzo Arts project – was timed to host events during the first Venice Climate Week (June 3-8) and honour the lagoon city’s hosting of the 19th International Architecture Exhibition (May 10-November 23).

During Venice Climate Week, Casa Sanlorenzo hosted three days of ‘Sanlorenzo Talks’, a series of meetings and conversations dedicated to the themes of ecological transition and sustainable innovation, and including leaders from the science, culture and industry sectors.

Facing the Basilica Santa Maria della Salute, Casa Sanlorenzo is a converted 1940s mansion with 1,000sqm of indoor space and a 600sqm outdoor area, and was restored by architect Piero Lissoni – Sanlorenzo’s Art Director – and the Lissoni & Partners studio.

The Italian shipyard created Casa Sanlorenzo “because a brand like Sanlorenzo, a worldwide leader in luxury yachting, can no longer limit itself to producing excellent products but must take on an active cultural role”. The venue houses a private apartment plus indoor and outdoor space for exhibitions, shows and Sanlorenzo’s contemporary art collection.

Massimo Perotti, Sanlorenzo’s Executive Chairman, said: “Our aim with Casa Sanlorenzo is to offer a reference point for initiatives linked to the world of Sanlorenzo Arts, an entity conceived with the goal of celebrating and supporting the union between art, design and culture, where innovation and creativity can flourish without limits.

“Casa Sanlorenzo becomes a place where one enters to stop, reflect and share. A space of research, where art does not simply adorn but rather interrogates. Where design does not impress, but guides. Where beauty is never for its own sake but the bearer of ethics.

“In an increasingly virtual world, we wanted to invest in presence, in meaningful encounters, and in shared experiences. Because we believe that authenticity requires substance, time and human connection. And Venice is the perfect place for this project.”

The restoration honoured the building’s history, so brick facades were enhanced and some original elements, such as part of the floors, were preserved. Where restoration wasn’t possible, “spaces were reinterpreted with a contemporary architectural language that enhances the exhibition function, creating a flexible and welcoming environment”, Sanlorenzo stated.

Concrete floors alternate with Palladian and Portoro marble, while white walls highlight the artwork on display. An adaptive lighting system allows light to be modulated according to exhibition needs, enhancing the visitor experience, while a new glass-and-steel staircase is among indoor highlights.

Outside, a bridge connecting Casa Sanlorenzo to the surrounding area is another key element of the restoration. Also designed by Lissoni & Partners, the contemporary structure was inspired by the pre-existing one to maintain a strong connection to Venetian history.

Piero Lissoni said: “I believe the opportunity to build a bridge in Venice for Sanlorenzo Arts is more unique than rare. The bridge is, in fact, an incredibly complex architectural staircase, and to me, it also embodies a range of other meanings.

“Besides connecting two different points, the bridge connects different worlds. It is no coincidence that the expressions ‘creating cultural bridges’ and ‘making human bridges’ are used. This bridge for me is not simply a vehicle to transport people but a cultural bridge, an ideal bridge.”

Made entirely of prefabricated metal and already assembled, the bridge features a surface of Istrian stone, typical of the city, and a wooden handrail crafted to resemble an oar, to highlight the connection with the water.

Its ‘humpback’ shape is reminiscent of medieval bridges, while the metal arch expresses a simple, linear aesthetic. Technologically advanced, the bridge uses calendering for the metal part, with steps in classical Venetian masegni made of Istrian stone and treated to prevent slipping. The metal has been protected against local weathering elements while maintaining a refined aesthetic.

apac.sanlorenzoyacht.com