Lagoon, islands. The countryside of Venice
An Interdisciplinary Exploration of the Rights of Nature as a Spatial Practice
E. Anghileri (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
E.L. Longhin – Mentor (TU Delft - Urban Design)
L.M. Calabrese – Mentor (TU Delft - Urban Design)
More Info
expand_more
Other than for strictly personal use, it is not permitted to download, forward or distribute the text or part of it, without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), unless the work is under an open content license such as Creative Commons.
Abstract
The context of Venice is so unique that even in this first sentence a mistake is already being made. In fact, Venice should never be considered separate from its Lagoon and islands, which together once formed an interdependent ecological, social, and economic system, vital to the city’s survival. They still do, but the way this system functions has changed profoundly. Historically, the Lagoon provided essential resources, including livelihoods, and hosted critical public functions. This close relationship fostered stewardship of the territory, which resulted in the Lagoon being cared for and maintained as a vital resource.
However, modernity has profoundly altered this dynamic. The progressive loss of functions in the Lagoon and islands has undermined the central role they once played in sustaining the city and are therefore no longer seen as valuable. As a result, they are often neglected by both communities and institutions. The most problematic consequence of this lack of consideration is that it facilitates the spread of destructive practices, leading to processes of environmental degradation and socio-cultural erosion. A territory deprived of its historical, economic, and social roles becomes increasingly vulnerable to dynamics of exploitation and abandonment.
If this trajectory is not reversed, Venice, its Lagoon and its islands risk undergoing a definitive transformation: an emptied place, devoid of identity and life, increasingly losing its active population and facing irreversible ecological decline.
In the past, active human presence, through traditional Lagoon-based livelihoods and functions, provided a natural form of protection. Today, a different approach is needed.
This research explores how recognizing the Venice Lagoon as a subject of rights can open new paths for its protection. Through an interdisciplinary and spatially grounded approach, it investigates how a rights of nature framework can inform new legal imaginaries and spatial strategies, reactivating social and productive practices that contribute to a more livable and resilient future for Venice and its Lagoon.