Up to Dry - Preliminary Drawings

"The public space is more important than any individual building." Norman Foster, about his 'Gateway' project at Venice Biennale 2012

My preliminary interests have narrowed towards the public space and it's importance in Venice's history. My project develops from an understanding of the canals as public shared space. At my site, I aim to improve the shared space of the canal while mitigating the site's unique conditions of public versus private. 

The Venetian condition of residential zones that most attracted my attention was the laundry lines. Laundry is an immediate indication of residents. It is a relatively homely affair, and yet it still hangs for all to see. To me, the laundry lines signify that mitigation of public vs. private, so I've decided to incorporate them into my bridge. 

After some research I discovered that Venice is actually in a deficit of Laundromats, and that laundry in Venice is quite the ordeal for residents. Because of this, I've decided on a program that incorporates a "lavanderia" as well as "linee" for drying. 

The system of the Venetian campo: Public space centered on an element that provides for the community -- in the historical sense, water. Continuing with my earlier interests in collecting water, I plan to establish a rain-water collection system that will be used to reduce consumption in the lavanderia.