The Venice Arsenal: Between History, Heritage and Reuse

A book presentation by Luca Zan | Professor, University of Bologna, Italy

Tuesday, March 21 | 10 a.m. via Zoom

With a deep connection to the city over centuries, the Arsenal was the very basis of La Serenissima’s sea power, enabling its economic expansion, and it maintained a vital military function through shipbuilding until World War II. But the slow process of abandonment of the site’s traditional uses and spaces continues to pose questions regarding its preservation and re-use.

Drawing on original research from urban planners, architects, and historians, and expertly edited by Professor Luca Zan, this book provides a detailed critical investigation into the organizational and managerial challenges of this unique site, and crucially, why so little has been achieved compared to potential opportunities.