Student Spotlight: Zara Gravett

The Project

As an industrial city, home to wealthy merchants and craftsman, Venice excelled in glassmaking, a craft dating back to the Roman Empire, and yet still forms a large part of Venice’s culture and industry. Salt was a major currency in Venice and Southern Europe both in its production and trade. Even after the fall of the Republic, salt warehouses were still actively used. The Magazzino del Sale is one of few remaining examples of industrial life in 15th century Venice and currently hosts a number of secondary venues for art and culture.

This design aims to bring into the city a public building that is also a working building. The glassmaking that exists (almost too casually) in pockets of Murano can coalesce in a building with greater connectivity to actual Venice. The roughness and robustness of the salt warehouse is an ideal partner to the heat, fragility and physicality that glassmaking demands.

The Inspiration

This design is inspired by projects such as: the High Museum of Art and the Kimbell Art Museum by Renzo Piano, Paseo del Óvalo by David Chipperfield, and the Tomba Brion and the garden at Fondazione Querini Stampalia by Carlo Scarpa.

Being Part of NTU

Zara has spent five years studying at NTU, graduating with a BArch degree in 2021 and due to graduate with a MArch degree later this year. Her bachelor’s experience was affected by the Covid-19 pandemic but, despite this, she has enjoyed her time at NTU. She has made amazing new friends, taken up a new sport, and learned to live independently being 152 miles away from home.

Closing Remarks

Studying architecture has been both challenging and exciting for Zara. It doesn’t require a history in maths or art or graphic design (though it helps), if you’re willing to put the work in and can manage your time efficiently, you will excel. One tip Zara can offer is to not underestimate the power of being able to sketch ideas by hand. You don’t have to be Da Vinci, but if you can quickly communicate your ideas to tutors (and future clients), it helps you stand out, think quickly, and improve your design skills.

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