On Tuesday, June 3rd, Sanlorenzo Arts unveiled Casa Sanlorenzo in Venice — a new cultural and artistic hub that journeys through time, rooted in historical memory while embracing contemporary and forward-looking expressions in both culture and architecture. More than just a physical space, Casa Sanlorenzo embodies a progressive vision: that a brand like Sanlorenzo — a global leader in the luxury yachting sector — must not only produce excellence but also play an active cultural role.

“With Casa Sanlorenzo,” says Massimo Perotti, Executive Chairman of Sanlorenzo, “our aim is to establish a landmark for initiatives connected to Sanlorenzo Arts — a platform conceived to celebrate and support the dialogue between art, design, and culture, where innovation and creativity can flourish without boundaries. Casa Sanlorenzo is a space for pausing, reflecting, and sharing. A place where art challenges rather than decorates, where design supports rather than dazzles, and where beauty serves not vanity but ethics. In a world increasingly virtual, we’ve chosen to invest in presence, encounter, and experience — because we believe authenticity needs matter, time, and human connection. And Venice is the perfect setting for this vision.”

A Living, Evolving Space

Casa Sanlorenzo presents itself as a dynamic, inclusive space — architecturally and ideologically — designed to foster diversity, sustainability, and the active engagement of both the artistic community and the public. Brought to life through the visionary creativity of architect Piero Lissoni and his firm Lissoni & Partners, the building functions as a center for research and experimentation, where artists can explore new forms of expression and where the dialogue between art and society becomes a catalyst for change.

Spanning approximately 1,000 square meters, the structure comprises two interconnected spaces: a private apartment and a vast 700-square-meter area devoted to exhibitions and Sanlorenzo’s contemporary art collection. Complemented by a 600-square-meter garden, this collection — continuously evolving — spans from 1965 to the present, reflecting the cultural and artistic shifts of recent decades and serving as a bridge between generations and aesthetic trends.

Restoration: Where History Meets Innovation

Casa Sanlorenzo is housed within a 1940s residence overlooking the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute — a location that adds both symbolic and design value. The original architecture was preserved through targeted structural interventions, respecting the building’s historical soul. Brick facades were restored, and original elements like sections of flooring were carefully conserved. Where restoration wasn’t feasible, spaces were reimagined using a contemporary architectural language that elevates their function as exhibition environments, creating an atmosphere that is both flexible and welcoming.

One of the most striking features is the glass staircase — echoing the geometry of the original while reinterpreting it through the use of glass and steel. It brings a sense of lightness and establishes a dialogue between past and present materials. Cement flooring alternates with palladiana and Portoro marble, while pristine white walls provide a neutral canvas for the artworks on display. An adaptive lighting system allows light levels to be adjusted according to exhibition needs, enhancing the visitor experience.

A Bridge Between Eras — In Every Sense

A vital part of the restoration is the bridge that connects Casa Sanlorenzo to the surrounding area — an architectural gesture rich with cultural significance. Its contemporary structure, inspired by a pre-existing one, is both refined and technologically advanced, yet rooted in Venetian tradition.

“The opportunity to build a bridge in Venice for Sanlorenzo Arts,” says Lissoni, Art Director of Sanlorenzo, “is something truly unique. A bridge is, in architectural terms, incredibly complex — but to me, it also carries symbolic weight. It connects not just places but worlds. We often speak of ‘building cultural bridges’ or ‘bridging human divides’. This bridge is more than a passage — it’s a cultural statement.”

Entirely prefabricated in metal and pre-assembled, the bridge features a surface of Istrian stone, typical of Venice, and a wooden handrail crafted like an oar to emphasize the connection with water. Its “humpback” shape recalls medieval bridges, while the minimalist metal arch brings modern clarity. Technologically refined, it incorporates calendered metalwork and traditional Venetian masegni stone steps, treated to prevent slipping. The metal structure is specially protected against the local elements, maintaining a sleek and elegant look.

A New Vision for Contemporary Art

Symbolizing the Sanlorenzo philosophy — where art, design, and innovation converge — Casa Sanlorenzo is also an official venue for Venice Climate Week, and recently hosted the Sanlorenzo Talks, a series of panels and conversations on ecological transition and sustainable innovation featuring prominent voices from the scientific, cultural, and industrial spheres.

Casa Sanlorenzo stands as a new vision for contemporary art — blending entrepreneurship, creativity, and research into a space of connection and evolution. With its opening in Venice, the project marks the beginning of an ambitious journey where art drives collective reflection on our present and our future. A new course for the contemporary, guided by Sanlorenzo’s passion and vision.

By Manuela Sciandra
Source: Daily Nautica