Armchair Traveller: The Olivetti Showroom
Address: Piazza San Marco 101 – Procuratie Vecchie – Venice, Italy
Architect: Carlo Scarpa

Venice is a city known mostly for its Byzantine, Romanesque, Renaissance and Gothic architecture. However, delve below the surface and you’ll discover some fine examples of twentieth century modernist design.

The Olivetti Store, designed and completed between 1957-1958, by Venetian architect Carlo Scarpa (Born June 2, 1906 – Died November 28, 1978) is regarded as one of Venices’ most important examples of twentieth century modernism.

The showroom was commissioned by Adriano Olivetti president of the company Ing. C. Olivetti & C. SpA (Italian: Eng[ineer] C. Olivetti and Company Ltd.) which at the time was Europe’s principal manufacturer of typewriters and business machines.

A master at combining new built form with old – Scarpa was highly respected for his ability to combine craftsmanship with modern manufacturing processes and it was understood that this showroom would be a space designed to show the products, as well as Scarpa’s talent as an architect.

Click here to read more about the Olivetti Showroom on archdaily.com

Click here to visit the FAI (Fondo Ambiente Italiano) website, who manage the museum.

• Article: Vanessa Couzens
• Image 1: An exterior view of the Olivetti Showroom, in Venice Italy.
• Image 2: A view of the central marble staircase linking the two levels of the showroom
• Image 3: The upper level of the Olivetti Showroom, facing towards the Piazza San Marco (Saint Mark’s Square)
• Photographer: Vanessa Couzens