Located along the Grand Canal in Venice is the Palazzo Cavalli Franchetti. Now housing the Venetian Institute of science, letters and arts, the palace started life in 1565 with many renovations since. 
Like many of the palaces facing the Grand Canal, the main rooms are on the upper floors facing the canal providing beautiful views, seen in the room above. Notice the Venetian glass chandelier.
The palace is most known for is grand stairway built for Baron Franchetti in the 1880s by architect Camillo Boito. Boito was one of the preeminent architectural historians and restorationists of the day, chartering the modern historic restoration movement.
While the Australian (who was kind enough to share these pictures) was in Venice, the Bienalli was taking place and the palace housed the glass exhibition, seen in part in the stairway above.
While the Australian (who was kind enough to share these pictures) was in Venice, the Bienalli was taking place and the palace housed the glass exhibition, seen in part in the stairway above. Designed in rich Venetian Gothic style, the house is characteristically rather over the top and ornamental: what we expect most in Venetian style.
As in all Venetian Palazzo's, the house fronts the canal with a courtyard or garden behind. I love this ornamental grille work.
The palace has a rare side garden facing the canal which during the Bienalli housed a strange house called the Narrow House.
Designed by Austrian artist Erwin Wurm as a reconstruction of his childhood house but squished to scale to only 1 meter wide to reflect the crowded conditions in Venice and the tricks our mind plays on our memory.
And I'm showing this because it's just amazing the detail that Wurm went to, but I promise you it's the only toilet you will ever see on ArchitectDesign!
The palace has a rare side garden facing the canal which during the Bienalli housed a strange house called the Narrow House.Designed by Austrian artist Erwin Wurm as a reconstruction of his childhood house but squished to scale to only 1 meter wide to reflect the crowded conditions in Venice and the tricks our mind plays on our memory. And I'm showing this because it's just amazing the detail that Wurm went to, but I promise you it's the only toilet you will ever see on ArchitectDesign! Top photo of the Palazzo from Wikipedia, all others from the Australian.
Loving that stairwell. Can I just say a big thanks to your Aussie friend for this virtual vacation!
ReplyDeleteI guess no detail was overlooked, even the roll of TP is squished!
ReplyDeletesome things must be shared! (this is my 2nd attempt blogger is in the toilet today) pgt
ReplyDeleteVenice is so magical, oh I have never spotted the narrow house before, it's wonderful and so Alpine, it makes for such a clean contrast against the gothic architecture.
ReplyDeleteWalked past it every day during our vacation last winter! Lovely building - one of a great series of posts.
ReplyDeleteI'm enjoying your pallazzo tour and all the Gothic detail. It just goes to show that sometimes more is more!
ReplyDeleteNot too much for me!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to spend a day in the palazzo.
Thanks for sharing!
Beautiful collection of photos!
ReplyDeleteAnd what a kick that Narrow House is!
Such a beautiful building. Very much enjoying the tour.
ReplyDeleteRiveted by the narrow house. It does justify a space at the Biennale. Love this post, STefan - thank you.
ReplyDelete