The renovation

François Pinault had hired Tadao Ando to carry out the remodeling of the Palazzo Grassi.

Tadao Ando adopted a plain, minimal, self-contained look that plays off the existing style without interfering with it.

In the rooms specifically intended to house the exhibitions, Ando installed free-standing white partitions that mask the walls without touching them. Set slightly forward from the walls, they leave the passageways and their marble surrounds open to view.

The lighting, created by Ferrara-Palladino srl, is also self-contained. Hollow metal beams—in deliberate contrast with the high, ornate ceilings—house the safety equipment and lighting appliances.

The extremely restricted scope of these additions and their reduced color palette enhance the Palazzo’s architecture and decorative features while generating the tranquil atmosphere essential for the contemplation of the works on display.

Lastly, a sheet of transparent fabric was hung underneath the glass roof of the atrium, masking the armature and causing the glorious Venetian light to create a diffuse glow in the space beneath.