”Teatrino” Auditorium – Venice, Italy

Interior and exterior lighting design, engineering, site supervision w/ Tadao Ando

Conceived and executed by Tadao Ando, this restoration maintains the spirit of architectural continuity of the preceding renovations of Punta della Dogana and Palazzo Grassi. It has a trapezoid plan of approximately 1000 square meters, located near Palazzo Grassi. Once the external wrapping that keeps unchanged the preexisting outline of the structure was rebuilt, Tadao Ando inserted inside an entirely new volume that defines the area for theatrical performances and screenings and, giving an architectural shape to the space – it stands out like a new work of art that confronts the historical context in which it is placed. This new structure defines two main areas that characterize the functional and architectural restoration project of the Teatrino: the first is an auditorium with a stage, a backstage with a technical room and a flight of steps with seats for the audience; the second is a foyer characterized by its large triangular openings on the walls that allows the free coming and going between the foyer and the adjoining areas, and by the large triangular skylight that brings natural light inside the building. Linear led lighting strips are modulate to create different atmosphere and various sky simulations.