The five-star Hilton Molino Stucky in Venice owes its imposing, red-brick structure to a 19th century entrepreneur.
Giovanni Stucky, born in 1843 from a Swiss family, had a vision of building a flour mill and pasta factory on the island of Giudecca that would not only stand the test of time, but display his own wealth.
Whilst the original project, that dates back to 1884, was a simple brick structure designed by architect Ernst Wullekopf, Stucky added an elegant spire in 1895, a neo gothic façade and an ambitious flour deposit to the complex. In the years that followed, Stucky would continue to tinker with the design of his project, perfecting its form and aesthetics, while increasing its production capacities.
Despite dominating Giudecca Island and local employment for over 15 years, the business’ fortunes began to decline in the 1910s before it was permanently closed in 1955.
The Molino Stucky stood derelict for nearly 40 years, before the Acqua Pia Antica Marcia company, part of the Acqua Marcia Group, took on the complex in 1994, to work on renovations in close cooperation with the Italian State. A deal with Hilton Hotels was signed several years later, with plans to turn the complex into a hotel and meeting centre. The complex finally launched in June 2007 as a hotel and conference centre with 379 rooms, a rooftop swimming pool and a two-thousand seat meetings space.
In 2015 the Acqua Marcia Group went into receivership and the hotel was eventually sold to Italian peer Gruppo Marseglia, which maintained the contract with Hilton.
Today the 5* hotel is one of Venice’s most sought-after properties, thanks to its uniquely imposing structure that dominates the canal. The old factory spaces have made for one of the largest conference centres in the city, with 12 meeting rooms, a grand Venetian Ballroom, rooftop pool terrace and Stucky Garden. The building’s tower, once a symbol of Stucky’s affectation, is today a presidential suite which hosted Michelle Obama in recent years.
How many warehouses and factories in operation today could aspire to such a long and illustrious future? Yet all over Europe, buildings ranging from the former power stations at Bankside and Battersea in London to Norblin Factory in Warsaw have successfully converted the industrial structures of the past into prestigious, mixed-use spaces. Thousands more have become vibrant residential developments. What hope is there for current sheds?
Modern warehouse re-use
UK property investment and development business, Quintain, is one firm exploring the conversion potential of more modern structures. A new project at Wembley Park aims to tackle the social part of environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals with another eye on the carbon-friendly virtue of reuse.
In a three-year residency, community-led theatre company Punchdrunk Enrichment will transform an 8,000 ft2 (750 m2) industrial unit into the first-ever co-created immersive arts space in the London borough of Brent.
Quintain is investing close to half a million pounds into the project, which reinforces Wembley Park’s leisure offering and strengthens the provision of high-quality amenities for its growing community. The scheme is also being supported by Arts Council England.
Qunitain said that the investment was a reflection of the firm’s ongoing commitment to providing its growing community and the people of Brent with high-quality experiences, amenities and cultural spaces – with previous initiatives having included The Yellow, a space programmed by the local community; Second Floor Studios, which provides affordable art studio space; and the Wembley Park Community Fund, which has helped fund 20 community projects across the borough.
Matt Slade, retail director at Quintain, called this a milestone moment for Quintain to welcome such a prestigious community-led company to Wembley Park to embark on its most ambitious project yet. He added: ‘Punchdrunk Enrichment’s residency in Wembley Park is expected to have a significant positive impact on the growing community of people who live in, work in and visit this neighbourhood every year.
‘Wembley Park is globally recognised as London’s leading destination for entertainment and the iconic home of memorable and accessible cultural experiences – a legacy which we have been able to further strengthen through a considered mix of community-focussed uses, experiential concepts, arts and culture and local amenities alongside global events and big-name brands.
‘This latest initiative reflects our continued dedication to the 340,000 people living in Brent, by providing access to a wide-choice of unique experiences, alongside opportunities for development and learning that will benefit the lives of local people.’
Punchdrunk Enrichment will work alongside local artists, educational organisations and community groups to develop creative programming that aims to provide community-wide access to high-quality immersive projects and experiences.
Through its residency, it will not only create new opportunities and professional development for Brent-based artists, but also connect with the wider community by engaging young people and families through a programme of workshops.
In addition, the residency will enrich local education by introducing a range of projects to primary schools across Brent. This will include The Lost Lending Library, Punchdrunk Enrichment’s flagship immersive work, which to date has appeared in over 75 schools and has toured internationally, benefitting more than 40,000 children by unlocking creativity and a love of literature in children aged 6–11 and their families.
The Wembley Park concept will build upon Punchdrunk Enrichment’s historic practice and expertise in immersive storytelling. Previous projects have included Greenhive Green, an ambitious intervention that created an immersive world for care home residents, turning their home into a traditional community green, and the village of Fallow Cross in Haringey which housed teacher-led workshops for children and professional development opportunities for artists.
Peter Higgin, CEO and Artistic Director of Punchdrunk Enrichment, said: ‘This progressive partnership with Quintain is significant for the future of Punchdrunk Enrichment, and the London Borough of Brent.
‘Our principle building partner, Quintain, has provided us with over 8,000 square feet of space in Wembley Park to realise a vision that has been a decade in the making – the first ever immersive community space, co-created, co-designed in partnership with local people. As an independent charity this is our most ambitious project to date – and one we knew we wanted to bring to this part of London.’
Punchdrunk Enrichment is the latest arrival to Wembley Park’s creative community, which has played a vital role in area’s regeneration. The ambitious cultural strategy for the area has seen the opening of 25 affordable artist studios, managed by Second Floor Studios & Arts, the welcoming of new cultural and leisure operators, such as Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre and BOXPARK Wembley, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra which will move its headquarters to Wembley Park.
The Yellow, the neighbourhood’s first community centre, since opening in 2018 has welcomed over 8,000 visitors each year, thanks to their wide range of free classes.
