A Flower Blooms on San Servolo
There is an island in the Venetian lagoon with a long history of transformations. San Servolo, once known as the “island of the mad,” has now become a place of openness, culture, environmental sustainability, innovation, and dialogu
A concrete symbol of how a place can flourish again when nurtured with love and vision.
It is precisely from this idea—bringing back to life what was forgotten—that the project “A Flower on San Servolo” was born, designed by Mario Cucinella Architects: a light, flower-shaped amphitheater conceived to welcome meetings, reflections, and people.
The amphitheater, inspired by the shape of a flower’s corolla, is designed as a space for connection and sharing, integrated into the surrounding landscape.
The structure was built using 3D printing techniques with a certified sustainable material made from natural lime and laminated panels.
Everything was built directly on the island to significantly reduce the environmental impact associated with transporting materials.
Thanks to 3D printing and the use of sustainable materials, the structure blends into the landscape with an organic shape that, like a flower, rises from the ground and merges with the environment like a living plant organism.
The production and installation of the amphitheater’s seating were handled by us at Pieces of Venice, in collaboration with Abet Laminati for the supply of the laminate.
Since 2021, Pieces of Venice has been part of the San Servolo Business Club, a network of selected companies that share the vision of the island as a constantly evolving green laboratory. For the 2025 edition of VID – Venice Innovation Design, which is always held on this island, we proudly renewed our commitment alongside responsible and virtuous partners such as Abet, 7Solutions, Erre Costruzioni, Global Power Service, Infinityhub, and Kubee to contribute to the realization of the amphitheater..
A Flower on San Servolo: the project by MCA Architects
VID 2025 represents a special opportunity to share and celebrate the power of sustainable synergies, the value of relationships, and the ability of design to be a vehicle for change.
It is with these values at heart that “A Flower on San Servolo” was created: an open-air amphitheater designed as a place for meeting and reflection, signed by MCA Architects.
From Waste to Symbol: the Birth of a Special Object
As is our custom, scraps have become creative opportunities and occasions for recovery.
From the leftover Abet laminate used for the amphitheater, we created a symbolic object: a tabletop phone holder, made by combining the recovered laminate with inserts of original wood from Venice’s briccole.
This object was given exclusively to the guests at the VID 2025 gala evening as a small, tangible sign of a project that unites sustainable design and memory. A simple object, yet rich in meaning.
Sustainable Design for Venice
We strongly believe that beauty can also be born from material scraps and that design should carry a greater message.
The phone holder is not only a beautiful and useful object but also a powerful message:
Every place, if cared for, can flourish again.
Every scrap material can be transformed into value. And it is through concrete, everyday examples that we can pass this on to future generations.
Karin and Luciano with some “travel companions” | photo credit – Gianni Antoniali