A routemap to success
Arsenale project phases: A routemap to success
Phasing of the development
The Arsenale site today is a mix of active spaces and unused spaces. Social-cultural activities are conducted by organisations such as Galeazze and Fondazione La Biennale di Venezia. Services are provided, and research work conducted by Thetis and CNR-Ismar. State and local activities are undertaken by the Italian Navy, Consorzio Venezia Nueva and the metro ferry network provider ACTV.
Venice’s population varies heavily across the year, with 120,000 extra daily visitors estimated during Biennale and festivals. This is additional to the average 45,000 daily visitors across the year, and 75,000 people who live on the islands. A further 23,000 people are thought to commute on to the islands for work. The demand for new homes, commercial spaces and attractions driving year round activity is significant.
This development proposal develops the site around its current uses. A phased implementation approach addresses different needs and opportunities to support existing commercial interests, and provide the best possible environment to create new uses , also capitalising on potential new uses as the development gathers its own identity. Capitalising on the incredible demand and opportunity offered by the Arsenale.
Phase A
The initial phase will address the recovery and safety of buildings within the Arsenale. along with redeveloping the open spaces and securing new access routes and transit options.
Existing buildings that have fallen into disrepair can be brought back into full use. This will also further integrate the activities already present on the site, allowing them to develop, providing more space for exhibitions and allowing new access to underused open spaces, including local initiatives with existing organisations. All the areas overseen by the Municipality of Venice would remain unchanged. Connections to the rest of the city will be expanded with new bridges and by strengthening ACTV routes. Jobs would be created through construction activities and the introduction of technologies such as site-wide smart-grid solutions and lighting in newly restored buildings and reopened public spaces.
Phase B
Individual conversions of warehouse structures facilitating new companies.
Building on the work of Phase A. new uses and tenants would be introduced, through the reconfiguration and renovation of several buildings brought back to use earlier.
Food, retail, sport and leisure uses would be developed on the site. This requires more complex business and operational management that would develop the presence of specialised professionals in the area. Supporting the arrival of people would be the introduction of serviced apartments. More visitors to the Arsenale will provide the case for expanded transit connections, particularly with the main hubs of the city, (the airport, railway station, Piazzale Roma). Greater public use of the main water reservoir would be encouraged. jobs, both direct and indirect, would be created by these new uses. Cash flow would be generated by commercial activity and development with surrounding property values benefiting.
Phase C
Varied use conversions of differing scale and type.
In this phase. already established employers such as ACTV and luxury boat refit works would be used as catalysts in the establishment of further craft and creative industries on the site.
With the improvement of the public realm and access brought forward by previous phases, a range of knowledge-economy based activities would be attracted to the site. From architecture to media and film; music and performing arts to ICT services. The further reuse of renovated buildings, particularly in the creation of flexible employment spaces will facilitate these uses. By combining the support of established economic activities with new creative industries, existing jobs can be secured and new entrepreneurial roles created. The support of educational and scientific institutions and the work of Compasso will be key to enabling this, as well as investment from HE sector.
Phase D
This phase introduces new uses brought in as anchors and attractors that perform from the point of profitability and job generation; all supporting the new residential development on the site.
An established retail centre, would work in tandem with the creative industries on site. Through maker spaces and markets. This would support the socio-economic development of proposals, diversifying the mix of uses on the site. This scenario requires a higher permeability of the south of the Arsenale. Compared to previous stages, this phase has the opportunity to create even more jobs and more assured cash flow as income streams are grown and diversified.
Phase E
Phase E would seek to re-purpose some areas currently occupied by the Navy.
This would serve to strengthen and facilitate the proposals detailed above. The access roads and connections between different areas of the site and the neighbouring areas of Venice and the Via Garibaldi are the key routes. The same work around place-making and transit connection growth would be developed from previous phases.
