A hidden Venetian garden

My Australian penpal, Neil, has been traveling again, this time to Italy. He sent me photos of this hidden garden in Venice that I just had to share with you!

The Palazzo Soranzo Cappello dates to the late 16th century and now houses the architecture authority for Venice, Belluno, Padua, and Treviso.

The house is beautiful but it's the garden that steals the show.

This classical folly anchors the end of a lush, green garden.

A closeup reveals a brick structure with worn stucco covering to appear as stone.

I love the Italian mindset as to preservation (the Palazzo was recently restored);  Let it look old, it doesn't need to look brand new like in Paris.

Maybe it's the architect in me but I need some sort of architectural anchor to give a garden interest.

Aren't these blooms spectacular?

You would never guess this was in the heart of Venice!

Perfect spot for a picnic.

The gardens are open to the public during office hours.

 Be sure to check it out on your next Venetian getaway!

Read More »

Add Comment

Unknown designers, exteriors, Gardens, Interiors, penpal, travel, venice

Palazzo Cavalli Franchetti

Located along the Grand Canal in Venice is the Palazzo Cavalli Franchetti. Now housing the Venetian Institute of science, letters and arts, the palace started life in 1565 with many renovations since.

Like many of the palaces facing the Grand Canal, the main rooms are on the upper floors facing the canal providing beautiful views, seen in the room above. Notice the Venetian glass chandelier.

The palace is most known for is grand stairway built for Baron Franchetti in the 1880s by architect Camillo Boito. Boito was one of the preeminent architectural historians and restorationists of the day, chartering the modern historic restoration movement.While the Australian (who was kind enough to share these pictures) was in Venice, the Bienalli was taking place and the palace housed the glass exhibition, seen in part in the stairway above.

Designed in rich Venetian Gothic style, the house is characteristically rather over the top and ornamental: what we expect most in Venetian style.

As in all Venetian Palazzo's, the house fronts the canal with a courtyard or garden behind. I love this ornamental grille work.The palace has a rare side garden facing the canal which during the Bienalli housed a strange house called the Narrow House.Designed by Austrian artist Erwin Wurm as a reconstruction of his childhood house but squished to scale to only 1 meter wide to reflect the crowded conditions in Venice and the tricks our mind plays on our memory.

And I'm showing this because it's just amazing the detail that Wurm went to, but I promise you it's the only toilet you will ever see on ArchitectDesign!

Top photo of the Palazzo from Wikipedia, all others from the Australian.

Read More »

Add Comment

Unknown Architect, artists, Australian, houses, Interiors, travel, venice

Ca' d'Oro

The Palazzo Santa Sofia, commonly known as the Ca' d'Oro or golden house, is a 15th century palazzo along the Grand Canal in Venice. You probably recognize it from myriad postcards or the backdrop to movies, I know I do!The building is known as the golden house because its exterior used to be decorated with gilt and polychrome but now is natural stone; Old habits die hard I suppose! Built for the Contarini family by sculptor/ architect Giovanni Bon and his son, Bartolomeo Bon, in gothic style, it was a more decorative version of the style prefered by the Venetians which the Bon's made famous throughout Venice.

One arrives off the Grand Canal to the boat launch behind a screened loggia.Which gives entry to the courtyard.The loggias surrounding the courtyard have gorgeous inlaid marble floors and byzantine capitals topping the columns.How many different types of marble can you count here?The loggias upstairs off the main compartments offer breathtaking views of the Grand Canal.Since 1922 the house has been owned by the state and operates as a museum.In the collection is this bronze winged lion. The winged lion is representative of St. Mark the Evangelist who is the patron saint of the city and stands as the symbol of the city. Photos courtesy of the Australian.

Read More »

Add Comment

Unknown Architect, houses, Interiors, travel, venice

Bella Venezia (2)

Since last week's post on Venice proved so popular, I thought I would leave you with some more images from the Australian of that beautiful city this weekend.

Read More »

Add Comment

Unknown Architect, Gardens, travel, venice, weekend