Dries Van Noten too is betting on Venice The acquisition of Palazzo Pisani Moretta, future «house of craftsmanship»

After Rick Owens and Renzo Rosso—the first, owner of a magnificent house on the Lido that also serves as the setting for splendid events, and the second, of four stores in Piazza San Marco, one for each brand of the OTB group—Dries van Noten is now also investing in Venice. He does so a year after stepping down as creative director of his namesake brand (now led by Julian Klausner), with the acquisition of Palazzo Pisani Moretta, a flowery Gothic-style building from the second half of the 15th century located between the Rialto Bridge and Ca’ Foscari. The palace, with its baroque decorations and interiors created by some of the most important Venetian artists of the time, will become a house of craftsmanship, stated Van Noten, who already owns a house on the Grand Canal with his partner, Patrick Vangheluwe. «This is a personal journey,» commented the designer. «The project is about Venice, history, craftsmanship, culture, and creating something contemporary with deep respect for what came before.» Maurizio Sammartini, a descendant of the Pisani Moretta family who, along with his sister Gerolama, restored the building in recent decades, commented: «It has always been a symbol of our deep connection with Venice, its history, and its craftsmanship. Restoring and protecting this incredible building has been a privilege. I am confident that Dries and Patrick will lead the palace into the future while preserving its rich past, and I deeply thank them for having the courage to take on this commitment to Venice.»

The purchase price has not been disclosed, but past estimates valued the palace at 50 million euros. In 2018, a Hong Kong tycoon made an offer of 43 million euros, which was later withdrawn, and subsequent offers were declined as there was no actual plan for the property, which Dries Van Noten, on the other hand, will present in September. According to what the designer and his partner have revealed, the house of craftsmanship will be a destination for creatives and artisans, for exhibitions and presentations, a space that will contribute to preserving Venice’s cultural heritage and promoting its innovation. In the past, Palazzo Pisani Moretta has been the venue for one of the city’s most exclusive Carnival parties, and also served as a set for the movie starring Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie, The Tourist. In this new chapter that will unite Venetian art with fashion, Italian history with one of the leading figures in contemporary Belgian design, Venice serves as the backdrop for a project that hopes to bring craftsmanship back into the spotlight during a challenging time for the entire sector.