Laguna Libre

About

Venice is known for its many small islands divided by canals. Laguna Libre is located in close proximity to the main canal, in Palazzo Surian Bellotto, and falls within the UNESCO World Heritage site. [2] This Baroque palace was originally built in the 17th century. In the 19th century, it became the seat of the French embassy in the Serenissima Republic. For a year the philosopher, musician and writer Jean Jacques Rousseau worked there as its secretary. A variety of French artists and thinkers of that era are said to have passed and stayed in the Palace throughout the years. In the 1930s, Cav. Mazzucco turned the warehouses of Palazzo Surian into a production location for glass beads, a business that mainly employed single mothers and women in difficulty. [1]

Nowadays, the warehouses have been restored in an environmentally sustainable fashion, utilising ecological material, incorporating innovative thermal and acoustic insulation to realise energy savings. [1]

In a highly touristic environment, Smart Venice, a Venetian based research and consultancy company focused on creating inclusive and sustainable communities, wanted to create an urban regeneration project based on integrated sustainability, taking into account ethical, environmental, economic, social and cultural perspectives. The mission of Laguna Libre is to strike a balance between the needs of the local population and those of tourists. It wants to stimulate creative encounters between the local community and the international public of creatives and artists who are visiting and collaborating with the centre. On the ground floor, it houses Laguna Libre, an ecological and cultural restaurant with local organic and seasonal products. Laguna Libre cooperated with two local non-profit associations that support the circular economy, and with local cooperatives and farms to gain direct access to local and seasonal produce. [1;3] Next to the restaurant, the complex also houses a jazz and world music club, as well as space for public and private events, hosting, among others, community-driven events, children’s activities, art and photo exhibitions, book presentations and public debates, all in collaboration with NGOs and different networks. Laguna Libre is also home to the headquarters of Smart Venice. [1;3]

Governance

Laguna Libre is a business initiative set up by Smart Venice. Smart Venice is a private research and consultancy company that aims to build inclusive and sustainable communities. To realise Laguna Libre, Smart Venice cooperates with a network of partners, including among others Veneto Jazz (an association producing and organising music events), Venezia Jazz Festival, Oltre Confin (a network stimulating solidary economy around Venice), El Tamiso (a farmers cooperative) and AEres (an association stimulating an alternative economy). [1;2]

Business Model

The investment for the purchase of the property, its restructuring and the start-up of the business was financed half by the shareholders and the other half through a loan granted by Banca Etica – following a preliminary social assessment by the local GIT (the local association of bank savers). The operation was carried out through the creation of a limited liability company, Smart Venice srl which has 5 partners. Smart Venice srl subsequently founded a second company, Jexiste srl, which deals only with the management of the catering business. Research and action activities on other projects, mainly European projects, are carried out with Smart Venice srl. [5]