The new entrance to the Arsenale

In the conversion of the northern entrance to the famous Arsenale, Andres Holguín Torres, David Morales Hernandez and Alvaro Solis Sanchez reinvent the interior space adding some volumes and leaving the original 16th century structure untouched.

A group of three young architects — Andres Holguín Torres, David Morales Hernandez and Alvaro Solis Sanchez — has recently completed the conversion of Tesa 105, one of the Venice Arsenale's 16th century pavilions. The space is located close to the north entrance of the famous and enchanting complex, originally used to build the ships of the Venetian Republic.

In 2006, an international design competition for young architects was held regarding what were considered the four key spaces in the requalification strategy of the Arsenale; one of these was the Tesa 105, a former shipyard, which had to be transformed into an area open to the public with offices and meeting space, multifunctional room, info-point, bar, bookshop. The Arsenale should in fact become more accessible according to the requalification strategy. After a long period of disuse and decay, Tesa 105 — which is public property — was consolidated in this way.

The challenge was to respect the competition requests established by the property and the Monuments and Fine Arts Bureau: to occupy 50% of the available floor without touching the existing walls, and to create three floors out of the total pavilion height in order to use the space profitably.

The fascinating characteristics of the Arsenale reflect upon everything it houses, but the winning entry by Holguín, Morales, and Solis does not rely on this advantage, achieving autonomous architectural expression. A vital city has always recycled its own monuments, and the architects of Tesa 105 join this tradition using the addition concept: Holguín would call it an "endo-parasite". The proposal invents the interior space adding some volumes and leaves the pavilion's original structure untouched.

Top and above: Andres Holguín Torres, David Morales Hernandez, Alvaro Solis Sanchez, renovation of Tesa 105 pavilion, north entrance to the Arsenale, Venice, 2012

The inspiring idea for the relation with the existing structure and for the articulation of the different volumes comes from the original use of the shipyard, where the ship under construction (the "carena") was located and lifted on some specific supports (the "taccate"). The original space composition of a lifted volume inside another volume is recreated and completely renewed by one large volume hosting offices, on top of four smaller supporting volumes at ground level, hosting functions for the public.

Andres Holguín Torres, David Morales Hernandez, Alvaro Solis Sanchez, renovation of Tesa 105 pavilion, north entrance to the Arsenale, Venice, 2012

In order to enhance the new object and its leaning out, the structural elements are completely included inside the shape: the walls of the elevated volume are white reticular beams as high as the volume itself. To reach the same aim a silkscreened white film is stuck on the glasses and joints are solved to disappear.

The new addition is independent from the pre-existing building but from the main source of light in the pavilion, the rooflights, which are essential in determining the side position of the main volume. The side position guarantees the natural lighting to the passage connecting the outdoor spaces — the Novissima and the Casermette — and to the two meeting rooms realized on top of the main volume, which rise up to the roof. The irregular distribution of 40 circular white lamps guarantees artificial light and highlights the articulation of the interior height game.

The new entrance of the Arsenale is the result of a succession of positive facts, in an exceptional process in the Italian context

In order to set off the containing historical walls materials and colours of the addition are simple and reduced in variety; a clever sequence in height of white opaque wall and white transparent glass fills the historical space.

The new entrance of the Arsenale is the result of a succession of positive facts, in an exceptional process in the Italian context: an ancient monumental site under conservation, public property promoting a competition open to young architects, young architects (under 40) declared winners, the Monuments and Fine Arts Bureau effectively cooperating, completion in a relatively short time and, according to the winning project, a successful use of the new entrance. Here is an almost perfect case of a new architectural life cycle. Paola Pellegrini

The new entrance to the Arsenale

In the conversion of the northern entrance to the famous Arsenale, Andres Holguín Torres, David Morales Hernandez and Alvaro Solis Sanchez reinvent the interior space adding some volumes and leaving the original 16th century structure untouched.

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