It is interesting how the Insula has tackled the problem of the crumbling infrastructure. Keahey describes the process as filling hand crafted cobble stones, “with special cement reinforced with carbon and Kevlar fibers that are strong, long-wearing and temperature-resistant.” It is a beautiful idea of the old hand-crafted bricks working with new state of the art materials to keep this delicate city from sinking into the lagoon. Although I think most Venetians would disagree, I would like to see these materials above the water, perhaps as an installation piece, a commentary on preserving the old with new materials, and supporting the city.
What’s more interesting is the Venetian response to the necessary maintenance the Insula carries out. It’s almost as though the Venetians romanticize the past and the rotting infrastructure more than the visitors. They prefer the rusty iron and the crumbling brick walkways to a city that stays afloat.
Even though this solution is materially very well considered, it is temporary fix and the proposed permanent solution in Venice Against the Sea is to, “turn the lagoon into a walled lake…” which seems totally insane, but I guess it’s no more outlandish than dredging the canals as often as the Venetians do.