ZHA Venice Studio Proposes Civic Gateway at Piazzale Roma

Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) directors Michele Pasca di Magliano and Clemens Lindner will lead the upcoming ZHA Studio at Venice Studio 26. This educational initiative gathers designers and students globally to research and develop urban planning proposals for the historic city. The program provides mentorship to future architects and urbanists through studio work, site visits, and local collaborations.

Lanterna project redefines the Venetian arrival sequence

The 2026 studio session introduces the “Lanterna” project, a new civic tower acting as a gateway to the Venetian lagoon. Students will design a vertical building on the site of the Autorimessa Comunale at Piazzale Roma. This strategy aims to transform the existing car park infrastructure into a primary threshold for the city.

Participants will explore the intersection of architecture, infrastructure, and civic space. The studio tasks designers with redefining how visitors and residents experience the transition into the historic urban core. Each student will define a specific program that addresses the environmental and spatial conditions of the site.

Elevated view of a modern pedestrian bridge over a Venetian canal during golden hour. — The proposed habitable bridge integrates into the urban fabric, linking circulation routes. Image courtesy Zaha Hadid Architects.

The design process incorporates traditional Venetian building materials and structural techniques. Students will study Murano glass, Gothic tracery, and terrazzo to inform their proposals. In addition, the research examines local brick-and-water construction methods and the intricate patterns of Burano lace.

Legacy of habitable bridge research and urban connectivity

Previous studio iterations focused on the habitable bridge typology as a solution to spatial constraints. These projects reimagined bridges as structures that house residential units and communal facilities. By integrating these programs, the designs sought to improve connectivity across the city while respecting the architectural legacy of Venice.

Musicians performing for an audience on an elevated, open-air bridge terrace under a canopy. — A civic plaza on the bridge structure hosts a musical performance overlooking the lagoon. Image courtesy Zaha Hadid Architects.

Past participants visited the Venini Glass Factory and engaged in technical workshops to deepen their understanding of local crafts. These immersion experiences directly influence the project presentations. Since its inception in 2022, Venice Studio has hosted representatives from 45 different countries to tackle these complex urban challenges.

A modern concrete pedestrian bridge with seating steps viewed through a stone archway. — The bridge proposal creates new civic spaces and circulation routes along the waterfront. Image courtesy Zaha Hadid Architects.

✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight

The Lanterna project at Venice Studio 26 addresses a critical infrastructural disconnect at Piazzale Roma. By targeting the Autorimessa Comunale car park, the studio moves beyond purely aesthetic intervention to tackle the functional threshold of the city. The initiative recognizes that modern arrival sequences often clash with historic urban fabric. Students must reconcile contemporary transport demands with traditional material systems like Murano glass and brick-and-water construction. This pedagogical approach transforms a utilitarian transport node into a civic landmark. It emphasizes that infrastructure should perform as a cultural and architectural gateway rather than just a logistical terminus.

Project Team: Michele Pasca di Magliano and Clemens Lindner (Zaha Hadid Architects). Location: Piazzale Roma, Venice, Italy.

Project Notes: Upcoming session for Venice Studio 26. Program includes studio work, site visits to Venini Glass Factory, and design research on the Lanterna civic tower.