Inside - Out Forest
UNIVERSITY ISLAND Competition for Poveglia Art University
1st Prize Winner
The life of Poveglia Island depends on two main facts; its wild nature and the manufacture of human.
The signs that were once marked on the land define a limit, an enclosure, footprints of functions, desires and needs of human.
Looking at the existing situation of the Island and considering the uniqueness of this Island which is one Green Land on the water, the traces that Architecture and Wild green Space leave are the inevitable point to consider.
This project tends to act softly on a strong trace which is the Nature of this Island.
Focusing on a strong linearity of two important traces (where the enclosure of the Artifact becomes the reason for the emptiness in the green texture).
The “Backbone” or “spine” embraces the existing situation, whether they are the ruins or the trees. This embracement is done with an architettonic choice that develop a backbone into a diaphragm. A flexible space that expands and shrinks down based on the necessity and the position of existing buildings as well as the wild unnartured nature.
The position of the new Architecture inside the spine is in dialogue with the existing buildings whether inside or outside the linear space.
The position of the new Architecture outside was chosen in order to define a larger scale open space squares in the whole site.
The diaphragm embraces the New Architecture as well as the Existing ruins. Project tends to complete the existing with a soft and delicate Architecture. Openness of this diaphragm is the most important architettonic action in the whole site.
The new Architecture in the diaphragm must have the tangible and intangible relationship within the spine and with outside the spine.As the New Architecture, other than the main Spine, there are 4 Reading rooms in the site with an objective of completing the existing situation by creating two squares.
The so-called Reading Rooms in the middle of the forest act as single elements deriving from the main generator.
The project seeks to position different focuses in its linear path.
Diverse spotlights that derive from the Nature of the Island (Wild un-nurtured nature as well as the ruins).
In the northern side of the Island, the so called “wildness” of the nature turn into the highlight, that is why the new Architecture inquire a punctual action as in this case a cube relieved from the soil while leaving the nature (in this case water) passing underneath.The self-named punctual Architecture follows the architettonic choice of the spine; a double layer character dividing inside from out, leaving the intermediate space as the filter between the forest and public activities of the university.
The multi purpose hall (cinema- amphitheater) serves not only to the university but also to the public arriving from outside the Island. In this case its position become strategical, very close to the shore yet secret in the forest which pushes the audience to explore through the charachter of the Island.
Entrances to the Island - Relationship with water
The architectural choice of diaphragm supports the flexibility of the connection with the water. The design does not act firmly towards the nature around. As the un nurtured forest, the Water acts as another natural element which requires a significant resilience every time that meets Architecture.
The project is integrating with the water movement from the highest Tide towards the Lowest Tide which can happen during a day as well as during a year.
Every time that the architecture meets water, creates an entrance to the Island. The project seeks to approach the tie with water towards 3 different characteristics of entrance, three entrances that create also a hierarchy in the longitudinal system. The so called hierarchy is both functional and conceptual.
Starting from the North access; The “Extensive Access” that opens the Poveglia Island to the public that arrive from Venice or further, a mixed used access which suits both the residents of the island and the foreigners.
Second access is the middle access along the small canal, a quiet private door passing through the island from west-east and vise verse.
So called “Confidential Access”. The diaphragm reacts to this opening and modifies itself as well as organizing the New Interior Architecture.
Third access “Monumental Access” displays the relationship not only with the water but also with the most consolidated and singular front of the Island (Tower and Octagon). The formal entry to the university campus.
The project simply looked for the simplest action to keep the unique character of the Island, therefore the changes on the shore and its relationship with water result as delicate as possible.
The Architectural choice of the project bases on the transparency and double layer. One layer that acts as an insider, other as an outsider belonging to the wild un nurtured nature of the Island, and the middle layer a diaphragm that brings the outside to the inside and vis verse.
Series of simple geometry New Architecture sitting inside a forest with an intermediate layer which links the soft and hard spaces to each other.
The very simple continuity that exists in the forest by the tree trunks, easily translates itself into the architectural language. An artifact that on the one hand becomes muddled with the sound of birds as well as the wind and on the other hand leaves an indirect filter between the Nature and so-called closed space.
