Document Type
Thesis
Abstract
Venice is deteriorating. The fragile city is crumbling, and eventually will be swallowed into the water which surrounds it. Besides the prospect of sinking, the infrastructure is damaged weekly by the cruise ships which visit the city and account for about 2 million tourists every year. Typically, these ships produce 50 tons of garbage, 210,000 gallons of sewage, and 35,000 gallons of oil-contaminated water. That being said, these floating cities contribute to about 20% of harmful emissions in coastal and port cities. In an already damaged state, Venice is negatively affected by traffic and pollution from these vessels. Recently, the Venetian Prime Minister announced that Venice plans to limit, and eventually ban these ships from entering the lagoon. By hindering the access of these ships, Venice will suffer economically, while the city will delay its inevitable fate.
This project explores the treatment and recycling of waste produced by these cruise ships as a way to better the ecosystem in Venice, while also creating a valuable green space within the congested city. Sustainability is the future of architecture, however, sustainable options frequently act as appendages in the design process. Architectural design and sustainability should work in tandem, and thus communicate their purpose in real time. This project explores a creative outlook on sustainable architecture while also extending the education and understanding of sustainable elements in motion.
Recommended Citation
Musilli, Nicholas, "Clean Venice: Infrastructure & Place-Making in Venice, Italy" (2017). Architecture Theses. 111.
https://docs.rwu.edu/archthese/111
