Fondazione Cini

The project involved the restoration and repurposing of the central section of the complex, known as the “Manica Lunga” for its length, converting it into a library, along with the renovation of the Treasure Room, the curator’s office, and the rooms used as archives.
The Manica Lunga, once made up of the Benedictine monastic cells dating back to the 15th century, has been transformed over the centuries and is now the Library of the History of Art at the Cini Foundation, housing a bibliographic collection of over 150,000 volumes.
The adaptation of the two cell wings to library space was a functional and aesthetically harmonious intervention. The room today looks like a large hall with open shelving extending along all the walls and long consultation tables arranged in the center. A second level, accessible by ramped stairs, has been created with a balcony that amplifies the available space.
The project saw Paolo Castelli S.p.A. engaged not only in the supply of serial furniture and custom-made solutions, but also in the management of all the construction work required to restore and fit out the spaces. Thanks to its consolidated experience in the field, the company has ensured high-quality interventions, respecting the historical peculiarities of the building and offering innovative solutions that combine functionality and design.
The library’s designed and patented load-bearing structures and shelving are made of steel plate painted with powders suitable for text preservation, ensuring functionality and durability. The center tables are made of natural oak, while the cell doors are framed by wooden portals of the same material, which support the upper balcony and create an elegant perspective effect. The central corridor is illuminated by an LED system integrated into the furnishings, designed to be discreet and efficient, while fire suppression systems, perfectly concealed in the lighting supports, provide security without altering aesthetics.

The main challenges of the project were the creation of the furnishings and fittings for a 15th-century historic building without altering its original state. It was essential to ensure the stability of the structures without using visible screws, preserving the architectural integrity. Another obstacle was the logistics: transporting approximately one and a half kilometers of steel sheet to an island facing Piazza San Marco in Venice required careful planning and the use of innovative technical solutions.