“If I want to go for a walk plunging in the art of the past I go to Venice.
If I want to see an international exhibition I choose Palazzo Grassi.
I would like to find here what I can’t find in Venice.” *

* IPSOS interview, Mestre, March 2008

Fondazione Venezia’s decision to realize Project 9 in the heart of Mestre was taken during the second half of 2005 and continued to develop between 2007 and 2008 until it reached today’s definition. Through Polymnia Venezia company and Eliconie company, the foundation bought three contiguous plots (called “ex Caserma Matter”, “ex Caserma Pascoli” And “ Immobile Poerio-Brenta Vecchia”) located between Poerio, Brenta Vecchia and Pascoli Streets, the area is also included in an urban restoration plan promoted by Venice Municipality.

In this space Fondazione Venezia will realize a cultural centre hosting Museo del Novecento – a new museum aimed at giving an account of the great cultural, socio-economic and urban transformations the inland area of Venice has undergone during this century, with references also to the Italian and global situation. The centre will also include a polyfunctional exhibition space, an audiovisual library of the Twentieth Century, an auditorium, services to the audience, commercial and administration spaces, parklands and public areas.

This museum is not going to have a traditional structure, but rather an innovative and articulated ensemble of services, providing a key centre for culture that the city of Mestre has long been waiting for, designed to give cutting-edge opportunities to the citizens.

In particular, Museo del Novecento will not be intended as a tourist attraction, or as a tool for passive visitors, but it will be aimed at the creation of constant relation and exchange with the local community: while the permanent collection will be addressed to families and students, the exhibitions and events program will be designed for a more specific public, addressing contemporary and “forward thinking” issues and debates. In order to develop the concept, the exhibition design belonging to 65 international museums similar to the future one in Mestre were considered and analyzed. In tune with some of the more interesting examples studied, the aim is to give shape to a museum where the visitor is able to interact as an active element, asked to reflect on the meaning and possible developments of the present situation, the true centre of a stimulating and involving learning experience. This will be achieved through the presentation of images and audiovisual material directly available to the visitors, constant interaction between public and art works with the possibility to “customize” every visit and the availability of variously sophisticated technological tools as suggested by a “mixed media” approach. Each possible exhibition visit will be designed according to multiculturalism, multilinguism and the necessities of disabled visitors. M9 will be built on an 8000 square meters surface. Inspections conducted over the past two years have proven the unsuitability of ex Caserma Matter to fulfil the museum’s necessities. Therefore this site will only be subjected to restoration, whereas in the “ex-Caserma Pascoli” area the foundation will realize a new building with a total surface of 7500 square meters distributed on several levels (3200 square meters will be underground). The new construction will present he most advanced functional features common to others highly sophisticated contemporary museums. All the spaces connected to Museo del Novecento will be located in this structure that will be realized according to the winning project of an international contest.

After securing and sanitizing the construction area, between April and October 2008, the architectural surveying and geotechnical analyses on the quality and consistency of the soil were performed. The next step now is the international contest whose winner will determine the characteristics of the architectonic project. The competition will be organized in two steps: at first the selection of 5 young architects (under 45) that will be evaluated based on their resumés and project proposals, at the same also 5 well known architectural studios will be chosen according to the proposals presented. Afterwards the winner will be chosen among the ten competitors based on the actual project developed. The plan should be aimed at respecting the existing site while transforming its general features and perception, and giving constant attention to its sustainability and eco-friendliness. Complying with article 32 of the Regional Act 35/2001, Fondazione Venezia is working together with Regione Veneto, Comune di Venezia and all the other institutions and companies involved in the creation of M9, in order to stipulate a program agreement. Before the endorsement the foundation, Regione and Comune will also sign a protocol of agreement to set and share the goals of the project, while consenting to guarantee their full commitment in order to achieve full success.

Contacts:

Fondazione di Venezia
Museum Office
tel. 041 2201284
museo@fondazionedivenezia.org
www.fondazionedivenezia.org

Press Office
Ad Hoc Communication
tel. 02 7606741
info@adhoccommunication.it
www.adhoccommunication.it