The paper is aimed to introduce the morphology of Marghera Area considered as a melt of physical, human and natural resources, and to demonstrate that the project is no anymore a matter of spatial modeling, but rather is driven by the strength of the Idea. The speech is structured on the following points: 1 - We get in confidence with the physical elements and measures of the lagoon system to understand what is the actual matters we are about to work with. 2 - Looking backwards in the geological and historical arrangement allows us to figure out the most likely structure of the future of this place: The lagoon system (more clearly that other systems) develops due to the delicate action of Human and Natural. 3 - A quick glance to the recent past century, shows us the ruins of a failed ideas: The Marghera industrialization myth is finally over; it lasted less than a century. The industrial platform has been an Intrusion, as an enormous anomaly in to the lagoon's delicate evolution. At the end of the cycle, the crisis elements of the territory are: - serious environmental pollution of soils / water; - low level of infrastructures / mobility; - expansive and inefficient built system / low density. 4 - Nowadays, the Marghera Area's morphology is composed by a messy system of signs which are the matter of the project Fondaci: a set of infrastructures, key sites, and a unique natural environment. The Project Fondaci challenges the mechanical relations made out of the traditional string of space \ production \ work \ residential, and shapes the morphology through a set a new paradigms: - by relating local and global scale - by using technological opportunities - by increasing natural capital The Project is aimed to combine the local morphology of Marghera Area (characterized by high level of livability, huge cultural heritage, unique natural heritage, cultural closure) and the global morphology springing out from the new paradigms (characterized by high level of knowledge, high level of production and consumption, opportunity of creativity, high level of tolerance)

1. ANDREA PENNISI
IP ERASMUS ATOMS & BITS | JUNE 30TH 2010
LA PIATTAFORMA
GALLEGGIANTE
una storia di Marghera

2. EVOLVING OF THE LAGOON
SYSTEM
LAGOON SIZE
INDUSTRIAL PLATFORM
MESSY SYSTEM OF SIGNS4
3
2
1
A FLOATING PLATFORM: MARGHERA'S HISTORY

3. ABSTRACT
The paper is aimed to introduce the morphology of Marghera Area
considered as a melt of physical, human and natural resources, and to
demonstrate that the project is not anymore a matter of spatial modeling,
but rather is driven by the strength of the Idea.
The speech is structured on the following points:

4. ABSTRACT
1 - We get in confidence with the physical elements and measures of the
lagoon system to understand what is the actual matters we are about to
work with.

5. ABSTRACT
2 - Looking backwards in the geological and historical arrangement of the
lagoon allows us to figure out the most likely structure of the future of this
place: The lagoon system (more clearly that other systems) develops due
to the delicate action of Human and Natural.

6. ABSTRACT
3 - A quick glance to the recent past century, shows us the ruins of a failed
ideas: The Marghera industrialization myth is finally over; it lasted less
than a century. The industrial platform has been an Intrusion, as an
enormous anomaly in to the lagoon's delicate evolution.

7. 4 - Nowadays, the Marghera Area's morphology is composed by a messy
system of signs which are the matter of the project Fondaci: a set of
infrastructures, key sites, and a unique natural environment.
...
ABSTRACT

8. LAGOON
SYSTEM
LAGOON SIZE

9. LAGOON SIZE
LAGOON
SYSTEM
The hole surface of the Lagoon = 55,000 he

10. LAGOON SIZE
The hole surface of the Lagoon = 55,000 he
8% is the land surface of Venice and its
Island
VENICE AND
ISLAND

11. LAGOON SIZE
The hole surface of the Lagoon = 55,000 he
8% is the land surface of Venice and its
Island
11% is the water surface permanently
covered by water: canals and basins
CANALS AND
BASINS

12. LAGOON SIZE
The hole surface of the Lagoon = 55,000 he
8% is the land surface of Venice and its
Island
11% is the water surface permanently
covered by water: canals and basins
80% is the humid surface: mud flats, tidal
shallows and salt marshes, barene
TIDAL WATERS

13. LAGOON SIZE
The hole surface of the Lagoon = 55,000 he
8% is the land surface of Venice and its
Island
11% is the water surface permanently
covered by water: canals and basins
80% is the humid surface: mud flats, tidal
shallows and salt marshes, barene
1500 he is the former industrial platform
INDUSTRIAL
PLATFORM

14. LAGOON SIZE
VENICE 730
ha
PLATFORM
1.500 ha
GARDEN CITY+MESTRE
2.000 ha
MORPHOLOGIES OF THE
BUILT

15. MORFOLOGIA DEL COSTRUITO

16. LAGOON SIZE
VENICE 730
ha
PLATFORM
1.500 ha
GARDEN CITY+MESTRE
2.000 ha
MORPHOLOGIES OF THE
BUILT

17. LAGOON SIZE
VENICE 730
ha
PLATFORM
1.500 ha
GARDEN CITY+MESTRE
2.000 ha
MORPHOLOGIES OF THE
BUILT

18. LAGOON SIZE
PLATFORM
1.500 ha

19. LAGOON SIZE

20. LAGOON SIZE

21. LAGOON SIZE

22. LAGOON SIZE

23. LAGOON SIZE

24. EVOLVING OF THE LAGOON

25. Benedetto Bordone, mappa della laguna 1480
1480
EVOLVING OF THE LAGOON-
SYSTEM
MOST ANCIENT MAP OF THE
LAGOON

26. The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
Seven main Rivers pour in to the lagoon
which tends to shrink
The mainlad constitutes the defence
of the Repubblic on the west side
The Venice Repubblic is fighting for his
domain over the Adriatic See
LAGOON XIV th
c.
EVOLVING OF THE LAGOON-
SYSTEM
A CLOSED
SYSTEM

27. The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
EVOLVING OF THE LAGOON SYSTEM
… LOOKING
TOWARD EAST

28. LAGOON XV th
c.
The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
Hydraulic projects to prevent the
lagoon from turning into a marsh.
Are built the first defensive towers of
Mestre and Marghera
More than 40 km of river's deviations
EVOLVING OF THE LAGOON-
SYSTEM
KEEP IT
ALIVE!

29. LAGOON XVI th
c.
The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
All the rivers are diverted from the
Lagoon in to the See
EVOLVING OF THE LAGOON-
SYSTEM
KEEP IT
ALIVE!

30. The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
EVOLVING OF THE LAGOON SYSTEM
mestre and marghera
defensive towers in the
most famous map of
the town
1500

31. LAGOON XVIII
th c.
The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
Venetian hydraulic projects to prevent
the lagoon from turning into a marsh
reversed the natural evolution of the
Lagoon.
The natural system of the
Lagoon is definitly changing. The
ammount of water in to the basin is
quickly grown up
EVOLVING OF THE LAGOON-
SYSTEM
LAGOON IS
CHANGED

32. The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
EVOLVING OF THE LAGOON SYSTEM
… HYDRAULIC
WORKS

33. LAGOON XIX th
c.
The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
Venice is not an island anymore: the
austrians built the rail-way bridge
over the lagoon
Massive works of reclamation,
against the natural expansion of the
water system of the lagoon
The mainland keeps to be a
supporting area of the industrial and
commercial activity of Venice
EVOLVING OF THE LAGOON-
SYSTEM
MODERNITY IN THE
LAGOON

34. The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
EVOLVING OF THE LAGOON SYSTEM
THE AUSTRIAN BUILT THE 5 KM
LONG RAILWAY BRIDGE IN 5
YEARS
1846

35. The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
EVOLVING OF THE LAGOON SYSTEM
THE STUCKY
MILL
1895

36. LAGOON 1917
The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
Begins the first industrialization: the
port of Venice is sided by the new port of
Marghera
An artificial channel is created
between Venice and the mainland
The Core of the city moves from San
Marco towards Santa Marta Piazzale
Roma Rail Way Station
Mestre and Marghera become a national
railway junction
Military infrastructures are settled in
Mestre e Marghera due to the WWI
EVOLVING OF THE LAGOON-
SYSTEM
INDUSTIALIZATIO
N

37. The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
EVOLVING OF THE LAGOON-
SYSTEM
Vittorio Emanuele Channel
Forte Marghera
Marghera Dock
Mestre Train Station
LAGOON 1917
INDUSTIALIZATIO
N

38. The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
EVOLVING OF THE LAGOON-
SYSTEM
LAGOON 1917
INDUSTIALIZA
TION

39. LAGOON 1935
The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
The Escavation of the Industrial Canals
alters the natural rhythm of the
water
1,200 hectar of lagoon are taken
over from the 1917 to 1935 to settle the
industries
The industrialization moves from the
island (venice) towards the mainland
(marghera)
Mestre and Marghera become workers
cities on the main land
EVOLVING OF THE LAGOON-
SYSTEM
LAGOON'S
OCCUPATION

40. LAGOON 1940
The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
EVOLVING OF THE LAGOON-
SYSTEM
MASSIVE WATER
RECLAMATION

41. MAINLAND MASTERPLAN
1937
The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
EVOLVING OF THE LAGOON-
SYSTEM

42. LAGOON 1969
The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
EVOLVING OF THE LAGOON-
SYSTEM
VENICE IN THE FACTORY

43. LAGOON 1980
The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
The industrial rules are definitively
changing
Is the decline of the industrial dream
In the era of diffuse welfare, Venice and
is environment are going in to a era of
mass tourism
The Venetian economy is
omologated and banalized
The natural attitude is compromised.
Enormous Pollution of the lagoon
EVOLVING OF THE LAGOON-
SYSTEM
T
R
E
V
I
S
O
PAD
OVA
M
I
R
A
N
O
J
E
S
O
L
O
C
A
V
A
L
L
I
N
O
END OF THE
DREAM

44. INDUSTRY 1991
The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
EVOLVING OF THE LAGOON-
SYSTEM
PRODUCTION IS OVER

45. PIAZZA SAN MARCO
1980
The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
EVOLVING OF THE LAGOON-
SYSTEM
MASSIVE TOURISM

46. LAGOON 2050
The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
Until the XVII century the fortune of
Venice has been linked to its connections with
the East
“Fondaco Project” is able to attract
culture and eastern experiences in
order to trigger a new
development cycle involving the West.
The ex industrial platforms of Marghera Port
should become the innovation vanguard in the
north east, bridge between West and
East and one of the European Union’s
qualified platforms dedicated to the refounding
of its relation system.
EVOLVING OF THE LAGOON-
SYSTEM
FONDACO
PROJECT

47. FUTURE
SETTING
The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
EVOLVING OF THE LAGOON-
SYSTEM
MIT
New York Talk Exchange illustrates the global
exchange of information in real time by
visualizing volumes of long distance
telephone and IP (Internet Protocol) data
flowing between New York and cities around
the world.
Look for the position of Venice...

48. INDUSTRIAL PLATFORM
The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi

49. The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
THE INDUSTRIAL PLATFORM

50. The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
THE INDUSTRIAL PLATFORM

51. The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
THE INDUSTRIAL PLATFORM
1917
The port of
Marghera is the first
settement of the
Platform
The port work mainly
with the following
industrial sector
55% chimichal
35% mechanic
10% other
2010
The port
activities barely
“survives” at the
industrial
disposal

52. The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
THE INDUSTRIAL PLATFORM
1925
The shipyard of
FINCANTIERI built:
Cruise, Ferries, Cargo
1980
Is one of the most
pruductive firm of the
whole area. More than
3.000 workers and 2.5
big Ship produced per
year
2010
Less than 800 workers
(most of then with
precarious working
contract)
17 severe accident per
year

53. The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
THE INDUSTRIAL PLATFORM
Activitie
1950
Since 1950 begins
the chemical era
The main industries
are:
ENEL- energy
production
ENICHEM – sintesys
product
ENI – rafinery
Marghera total workers
1930 196519651980
3,000
33,200
29,00025,000
1990
19,000
2000
12,000

54. The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
THE INDUSTRIAL PLATFORM
1913
Around the
Platform arise 2
main settelment:
Mestre e Marghera
Garden City
1962
Marghera Garden
City: more than
30,000 people
1972
In Mestre dwell
180,000 people

55. The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
THE INDUSTRIAL PLATFORM
1970
Between Industrial
and residential
areas arise a
services belt
Industrial Releted
small enterprised
Citizens services

56. The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
THE INDUSTRIAL PLATFORM
2007
More than 4,000
ha not use in Porto
Marghera area

57. The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
THE INDUSTRIAL PLATFORM
1990
The Technopole of
Marghera get birth
in the early 90s.
2000
The Huge Urban
Park is built on a
site facing the
lagoon
2010
Vega employs
2,000 people in
200 firms

58. The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
THE INDUSTRIAL PLATFORM
MAP OF
POLLUTION
Inorganic
Cyanides
Metals:
Aluminum, Silver, Arsenic,
Cadmium, Chromium (trivalent
and hexavalent), Iron,
Manganese, Mercury, Nickel,
Lead, Copper and Zinc
Phenols:
Total organochlorine solvents,
Chloroform,
Tetrachloroethylene,
Trichloroethylene
Chlorinated organic
compounds:
Total aromatic organic
solvents, Benzene, Toluene,
Xylene.
the poloclorobifeniti
polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons (PAHs)pesticides
and herbicidesdioxins.
POLLUTION
LOADS
URBAN
INDUSTRIAL
AGRICOLTURE

59. The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
THE INDUSTRIAL PLATFORM
IPPC/SAR 2100
SCENARIO
SCENARIO CLIMATE
SENSIBILITY
ICE
MELTIN
G
EMISSION
CO2
FORCAST
CM
FIRST 1.5° SCARS
O
LOW 13
SECOND 2.5° MEDIO MEDIE 49
THIRD 4.5° ELEVA
TO
HIGHT 94
LEVEL OF WATER

60. MESSY SYSTEM OF SIGNS
The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi

61. The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
MESSY SYSTEM OF SIGNS

62. The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
MESSY SYSTEM OF SIGNS
TWO CITIES IN ONE

63. The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
MESSY SYSTEM OF SIGNS
RECENT INFRASTRUCTURES

64. The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
MESSY SYSTEM OF SIGNS
MARGHERA GARDEN CITY

65. The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
MESSY SYSTEM OF SIGNS
MARGHERA GARDEN CITY

66. The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
MESSY SYSTEM OF SIGNS
STREET SYSTEM OF MARGHERA

67. The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
MESSY SYSTEM OF SIGNS
TRAM WAY SYSTEM

68. The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
MESSY SYSTEM OF SIGNS
TRAM WAY SYSTEM

69. The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
MESSY SYSTEM OF SIGNS
RAIL WAY SYSTEM

70. The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
MESSY SYSTEM OF SIGNS
RAIL WAY SYSTEM

71. The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
MESSY SYSTEM OF SIGNS
STRIKES IN PORTO MARGHERA'S
FACTORY

72. The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
MESSY SYSTEM OF SIGNS
VERY LITTLE WORK POWER

73. The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
MESSY SYSTEM OF SIGNS
MESTRE URBAN HIGH WAY

74. The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
MESSY SYSTEM OF SIGNS
MESTRE JAM

75. The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
MESSY SYSTEM OF SIGNS
AIRPORT MARCO POLO

76. The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
MESSY SYSTEM OF SIGNS
AIRPORT MARCO POLO

77. The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
MESSY SYSTEM OF SIGNS
WILDLIFE

78. The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
MESSY SYSTEM OF SIGNS
WILDLIFE

79. The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
MESSY SYSTEM OF SIGNS
CANALS, BARENE

80. The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
MESSY SYSTEM OF SIGNS
CANALS, BARENE

81. The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
MESSY SYSTEM OF SIGNS
DELICATE SYSTEM

82. The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
MESSY SYSTEM OF SIGNS
CONTAMINATED ENVIRONMENT

83. The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
MESSY SYSTEM OF SIGNS
MOSE WATER CONTROL

84. The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
MESSY SYSTEM OF SIGNS
VIA TORINO OFFICE
DISTRICT

85. The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
MESSY SYSTEM OF SIGNS
INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS
REFURBISHMENT

86. The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
MESSY SYSTEM OF SIGNS
VEGA TECHNOLOGICAL
PARCK

87. The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
MESSY SYSTEM OF SIGNS
SAN GIULIANO PARK

88. The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
MESSY SYSTEM OF SIGNS

89. The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
MESSY SYSTEM OF SIGNS
CONCLUSIONS
The Project Fondaci challenges the mechanical relations made out of the
traditional sequence of space production work residential, and shapes
the morphology through a set a new paradigms:
- by relating local and global scale
- by using technological opportunities
- by increasing natural capital
[...]

90. The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
MESSY SYSTEM OF SIGNS
CONCLUSIONS
The Fondaco Project is aimed to combine the local morphology of
Marghera Area (characterized by high level of livability, huge cultural
heritage, unique natural heritage, cultural closure) and the global
morphology springing out from the new paradigms (characterized by high
level of knowledge, high level of production and consumption, opportunity
of creativity, high level of tolerance)

91. The History of the Marghera Area | IP Erasmus Atoms & Bits | Andrea Pennisi
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Storia di Mestre e Marghera
Mancuso, Venezia è una città, Venezia 2010
Longhi, Venezia Industriale Industriosa, Venezia 1999
Longhi, Il grappolo Metropolitano di Mestre, Venezia 2003
Sardo e altri, Mestre Novecento, Venezia 2009
Industria
Gianluca Palma, Porto Marghera: evoluzione attuale e prospettive, Venezia 2009
Ambiente
Quaderni Habitat, Laguna Estuari Delta, Udine 2009
Atlante della Laguna, www.atlante.silvenezia.it
Callegaro, Elementi di crisi dell'ecosistema lagunare, Venezia 2009
Dati e statistiche
Consorzio Venezia Nuova
Servizio Statistica e Ricerca, Comune di Venezia. www.comune.venezia.it/statistica
COSES, www.coses.it/
Immages
www.fassiophoto.com
Laboratorio Mestre Novecento, Comune di Venezia