At the beginning of the 21st century, Venice seems destined for a slow decline as a lived-in city, increasingly transforming into a tourist destination. While the mainland continues to grow demographically, the island’s population has been shrinking by about 1,000 residents per year, reaching 49,000 inhabitants in 2024.
As early as the 1960s, art historian Giuseppe Mazzariol highlighted this phenomenon, attempting to counter it with modern architectural projects. During that time, Venice attracted designs from renowned architects such as Le Corbusier, L. Kahn, and F.L. Wright, which, however, remained unrealized, missing an opportunity for urban regeneration.
Today, the Venice Co-Working Park project aims to create new job opportunities to combat depopulation, featuring contemporary architecture inspired by some of Veneto’s most iconic modern designs. Located in Santa Marta, a young and vibrant neighborhood full of students, the project focuses on redeveloping the Ex Italgas Zone, a municipal area contaminated by past industrial activity and now devoid of greenery.
As part of a broader waterfront redevelopment stretching from S. Andrea to S. Basilio—set to introduce five new railway lines—the revitalization of the Ex Italgas Zone represents a crucial step in restarting Venice’s modernization, which has long been at a standstill.
Venice Co-Working Park is envisioned as a strategic hub for young residents and students, offering spaces for dynamic smart-working companies, a green environment, and a wide range of services. By integrating work, sports, and gastronomy, the project promotes a lifestyle in line with Venetian tradition, fostering professional and social connections. This initiative presents a concrete opportunity to reverse the island’s decline and provide Venice with a sustainable path forward.