Urban Planning
and Urban Problems
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| The physical Urban Planning of Venice remains very similar to the layout it acquired in the Imperial Age, beginning with Doge Sebastiano Ziani creating public space in the Piazza San Marco. It is from this focal point that the city begin to radiate (in a winding fashion), very similar to a Baroque city model. Venice can be compared to a Baroque city model as long as the scale is kept in perspective. The measured hierarchy of space and the impressive symbols of state power were confined to limited space. Open space, though not abundant because of the city’s small size, was set aside as the six sesteri developed around squares. Gardens are also present along the outskirts of the city. Land separation is present in the layout – the Arsenale, home of the ship building that was once Venice’s primary industry, is located on the farthest edge of the island, away from the administrative and residential districts. However, the zoning becomes fuzzy as the city converts many areas to tourist functions. The focus of the Baroque city can be found in the role of San Marco and its Piazza, which housed the administrative functions (Doge’s Palace) of the Baroque era and several impressive monuments and buildings. Although this focus was not in the exact center of the city, but on the southern edge, hierarchy of space still revolved around it. For example, the Ghetto was placed in Cannaregio, the northern most district of Venice, signifying the inferior status of the Jews in relation to the ruling class. If thought of as a wide avenue with direct access to the center, the Canal Grande reflects both the hierarchy of space and the separation of classes. Lined with palazzos, the main thoroughfare was only home to the elite. |
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The majority of Venice’s recent urban planning has been in response to the myriad of problems the city is experiencing. Several plans, including the Old/General Town Plan of 1959, the reactionary New Town Plan, and organizations like UNESCO and INSULA have attempted to lessen and eliminate these problems. It is difficult to discuss the urban planning of Venice without defining the problems, therefore, each problem will be described, followed by a discussion of the proposed solutions. |
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The problems of Venice are all intertwined: each aggrivates the others. As a result, many of the recent plans attempt to kill two birds with one stone. Because the salvation of Venice is a hotly debated issue, most of the solutions have not yet been put into practice. No one seems to know who to please, the citizens – rich or poor – or the tourists. |
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