Pierre Cardin to build housing-business tower in Venice

Venice could soon get new sight: 245 meters high Palace of Light, designed by Pierre Cardin. But, not everybody liked the idea.

The Palace of Light (Palais Lumière), an investment of USD 3 bn should be built in the Margera industrial quart. Within three towers of different heights linked with six platforms, a couple of concert and cinema halls, trade center and fashion school should fit in. There will also be housing and business units in the towers, with a unique view over Venice.

A ninety-year old designer wishes to enrich Venice with “new symbolic form”.

Although attracted by huge investment and a promise of opening 7.000 vacancies in a city which is running out of people and which is suffering debts, although city fathers of Venice approved of enormously big project, experts have been refusing the idea. The height of the project is the crucial issue for numerous critics.

With its 245 meters height, the Palace of Light would more than double exceed the height of the tallest construction in Venice, the tower of St. Marco`s Cathedral. Although the construction site is far fro the historical core, future three-tower building would be the first construction passenger coming from the sea would see when approaching Venice.

Famous Italian architect, Vitorio Gregoti invited Cardin to change its project and adapt it to environment. A cousin of famous designer, Rodrigo Basilikati, who is in charge of the project, is opposing changes because "uniqueness" of this project would diminish, which he compares with the Eiffel tower which also "did not fit into the environment".

Critics are still resisting the project which they do not see neither large economic nor esthetic benefit.