This project proposes reviving the Scuola Grandi di Misericordia as a school of Venetian craft, inspired by the endangered nature of velvet weaving at Tessitura Luigi Bevilacqua, the last atelier in Venice. By reimagining traditional craft rituals into innovative methods of fabric construction, the project aims to preserve and highlight this unique heritage.

Exploring an architectural language of structural silk, the project emphasises the significance of Venetian Red through its drawings, addressing the East-West dichotomy on heritage. This colour, resonant in both Venice and the East, underscores shared aesthetic sensibilities and the enduring influence of the Silk Road on Venetian culture.

Over time, the proposal evolves into a stage for architectural performances, inviting visitors to participate in acts of construction, maintenance, and reconstruction. This engagement nurtures a relationship with the landscape, empowers local communities, and challenges global perceptions of Venice’s national identity. Through creative reinterpretation, the project envisions a space of productive liminality, where the familiar meets the strange, to reclaim the legacy of Venetian craft.