Encounter
Washington University in St. Louis
Robert Mccarter Studio
1/2018-5/2018
This is an archive proposal that is an addition to Louis Kahn's (unbuilt) Palazzo del Congressi, located in Arsenale Venice. It is supposed to be a place where people can read copies of historical materials about Venice. The primary goal of this project is to create a space where people would love to keep wandering and seeking. By so, tourists may unexpectedly encounter something or someone interesting during their visit and crush on Venice
Space Prototype
Site
Kahn was able to turn the Palazzo into a bridge that spanned across the Canale delle Galeazze. The public space that would originally have been found in the Giardini transformed into a roof terrace, allowing the structure to act as both Palazzo and piazza in a single dramatic gesture. Two rectangular masses rose from opposite banks of the canal, each containing stairways to bring visitors to the congress hall. The hall itself was suspended between the two stair towers, its floor sloping gently toward the center of the space. Above, three shallow vaults ran transverse to the longer curve of the floor.
The form of the archive made it a gate of Louis Kahn's proposal. They will create a sequence that allows visitors to have multiple space experiences.
Space type catalog
