Carlo Scarpa, Extension of the Canoviano museum, Possagno (Italy), 1955

For the extension of the Canoviano Museum in Possagno Carlo Scarpa did a project that combines a cubist construction with a compact cubic structure.

Between the new part and the old part of the building from Lazzari the new gallery winds its way, a sort of telescope pointing on the Three Graces. He did a very sensitive level crossing, that is underlined by three slotted windows with sloping vertical windows. That is accompanied by a lowering of the ceiling.

He also used the lowering of the ceiling to implement glass elements and bring natural light in the room. Natural light was a very important element for Scarpa when designing this exhibition room. So, in the part of the new building, which has a cubic form, he did two different types of glass elements. These two types of glass elements are in the upper corners of the exhibition room. The unique form of the glass elements let the natural light inside the exhibition room and at the same time it is working perfectly with the sculptures.

References:

• Carlo Scarpa, Extension of the Canoviano museum, 1955, Drawings completed for Laboratorio di Architettura degli Interni, Prof. G. Ottolini, M. Nocchi con C. Centineo, M. Pirola, S. Varvaro, Politecnico di Milano, A.A. 2005-2006.
• https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gipsoteca_canoviana
• http://www.museocanova.it/il-museo/

Authors:

Lauren Overlaet

Farah De Schutter

Iva Georgieva