Ca' Masieri, Venetian palace on Grand Canal in Dorsoduro, Italy
Ca' Masieri is a palace on the Grand Canal in Dorsoduro with a triangular footprint and a brick facade featuring tall narrow windows and a water entrance. The building sits directly next to Palazzo Balbi and now functions as university spaces.
Angelo Masieri commissioned American architect Frank Lloyd Wright for renovation in 1955, but the city council rejected his design. Years later Carlo Scarpa redesigned the interior while keeping the original exterior intact.
The palace houses the Project Archive of IUAV University and shows exhibitions about contemporary architecture and design. You can see how modern artistic projects are displayed within the historical rooms.
The building is open to visitors and features exhibitions that are easy to understand without special background knowledge. The best time to visit is during exhibition periods when the spaces are accessible to tourists.
The building shows how a world-famous architect's design was rejected by local officials, revealing Venice's strong commitment to preserving its architectural character. This moment reflects how the city protects its established building traditions.
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