The venetian arsenal: water, culture and heritage

Abstract

The Venetian Arsenal, one of Europe’s oldest shipyards, played a crucial role in the development of Venice. Although it now hosts events for the renowned Biennale, since the partial departure of the military, the site has offered little value to the communities in its vicinity in part because citizens have not been included in heritage management decisions. A recent draft agreement signed in 2022 to expand La Biennale’s activities threatens to further exacerbate livability problems faced by local communities. However, the agreement’s early stage presents an opportunity to repurpose the Arsenal in response to Venice’s many problems, including mass tourism, the need for more housing, the ecosystemic loss in the Venetian Lagoon and the ongoing privatization of public spaces.