Cultural
Yang Tse Art Foundation
Villa Cornaro, Piombino Dese, 2020
The project for Villa Cornaro draws upon the very condition of Palladian houses as structures which have been passed down generations without essentially having suffered serious alterations. Though quite rare in architecture history this is perhaps not surprising.
Often overlooked as phenomenon, the resistance of Palladio’s buildings is this not only due to the “authority” of Palladio, but it is a testament to the clarity of the conceptual approach of his original projects.
The intervention fully respects the original Palladian composition by acknowledging the existing partition of the house on four distinct levels and the uniqueness expressed by of the presence of two piani nobili of equal architectural importance. The existence of two piani nobili - of two “first orders” Palladio would have said - allows the owners to differentiate within two different levels of the house the way in which the collector can practice his/her appreciation for modern and contemporary art. The first order can be conceived as a proper museum; one which leverages on the aesthetic and conceptual compatibility between ancient spaces and contemporary art which will be further established in the “second order” where, however, the “private” dimension that unites the collector to his/her works of art will be privileged. The basement (historically used as wine cellar of the Cornaro estate) will be climatically adapted to host the collection and allow for the exhibition of works of art to be shared with a wider public – that could also be offered the possibility to access the first order, without compromising the privacy of the private use.
Image credits all photographs © Louis De Belle
Often overlooked as phenomenon, the resistance of Palladio’s buildings is this not only due to the “authority” of Palladio, but it is a testament to the clarity of the conceptual approach of his original projects.
The intervention fully respects the original Palladian composition by acknowledging the existing partition of the house on four distinct levels and the uniqueness expressed by of the presence of two piani nobili of equal architectural importance. The existence of two piani nobili - of two “first orders” Palladio would have said - allows the owners to differentiate within two different levels of the house the way in which the collector can practice his/her appreciation for modern and contemporary art. The first order can be conceived as a proper museum; one which leverages on the aesthetic and conceptual compatibility between ancient spaces and contemporary art which will be further established in the “second order” where, however, the “private” dimension that unites the collector to his/her works of art will be privileged. The basement (historically used as wine cellar of the Cornaro estate) will be climatically adapted to host the collection and allow for the exhibition of works of art to be shared with a wider public – that could also be offered the possibility to access the first order, without compromising the privacy of the private use.
| Project Title: | Yang Tse Art Foundation |
| Location: | Villa Cornaro, Piombino Dese, Italy |
| Year: | 2020-ongoing |
| Status: | Ongoing |
| Program: | Art foundation and private residence |
| Scale: | L |
| Surface: | 2,812 sqm |
| Client: | Private |
| Partner: | Giulia Foscari |
| Team: | Ignacio Servetto (Project Architect), Nicola Campri, Ines Molinari, Francesca Pagliaro, Javier Santini, Federica Zambeletti |
| Consultants: | CEV (General Contractor), ESA (MEP Engineer), Lares (Facade Restoration), Valentina Piovan (Frescoes Restoration), Capoferri (Windows), Artemide (Light Consultant), Lorenzo Girotto (Health and Safety) |
Image credits all photographs © Louis De Belle
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