Venice 2013 - Olivetti Showroom by Carlo Scarpa

Some of the main agendas in our Venice bucket list was to visit Carlo Scarpa's architectural works. Scarpa is often considered the foremost modern Italian master architect. He was born in Venice in 1906, relocated to Vicenza when he was 2 years old, and later on moved back to Venice where he attended the Academy of Fine Arts specializing in architectural studies.

The Olivetti Showroom right on Piazza San Marco is one of Scarpa's architectural masterpieces. In terms of scale it is quite small - a 2-storey showroom which was commissioned in the 1950s. It was a showroom and office for Olivetti typewriters. Olivetti was once the leading typewriter manufacturer in the World, and they had always had a strong focus on design. It was not surprising that they would engage a talented architect to design their showcase space, and the result is one of the most beautiful architectural creations of the 20th century.

The centerpiece of the design is the impressive marble staircase which is a masterclass in creativity, composition, detailing and construction.

 The meticulous detailing and craftsmanship are quite breathtaking.

The showroom is now a museum which you can visit by paying a small fee of 5 euros. It is open from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. and closed on Mondays.