Venice, Berggruen Institute opens first European activity center in Casa dei Tre Oci

To revive a historic palace in Venice and create a European center to develop fundamental ideas and shape political, economic and social institutions for the needs of the 21st century. This is the goal of the Berggruen Institute which recently purchased the Casa dei Tre Oci della Giudecca from the Venice Foundation. And again with this in mind, yesterday the first official event took place that will open a long season of cultural events, with contributions of international caliber, to give new life to a historic building in Venice. Built in 1913, the Casa dei Tre Oci (so defined for the characteristic three arches on the facade overlooking the Grand Canal) has always welcomed artists and intellectuals, as well as being a classic example of neo-Gothic architecture. The Venice Foundation acquired the property in 2000 and, after careful restoration, reopened the building to the public in 2012 as a space for photographic exhibitions. In 2007 the Regional Directorate for Cultural and Landscape Heritage of the Veneto declared the Casa dei Tre Oci an asset of historical and artistic interest. And now, with the transfer of ownership to the Berggruen Institute, the goal is to create a center of European activity, a meeting place for global dialogue and new ideas, which hosts an international program of conferences, workshops, symposia and exhibitions in the visual arts and architecture.