The Belgian designer plans to transform the 15th-century Palazzo Pisani Moretta into a vibrant space for art, craft and contemporary culture.
Dries Van Noten has just penned a dramatic new chapter in Venice’s storied history. In partnership with Patrick Vangheluwe, Van Noten now holds the keys to the illustrious Palazzo Pisani Moretta, an opulent landmark perched majestically along the Grand Canal.
Built in the late 15th century and refurbished in the 18th, the Gothic-Baroque palace boasts sumptuous interiors adorned with frescoes by Venetian masters like Giovanni Battista Tiepolo and Jacopo Guarana. In recent years the palazzo has also served as one of Venice’s most exclusive event venues, famed for Carnival masquerade balls and even appearances in films such as Casino Royale.
Van Noten and Vangheluwe plan to transform Palazzo Pisani Moretta into a public cultural hub devoted to art, craftsmanship, and dialogue between past and present. Rather than a private estate or luxury hotel, the palazzo is slated to host rotating exhibitions, artist residencies, and events fostering collaboration between artists and artisans, with full details expected to be released by September.
Van Noten has described the project as “a personal journey” rooted in Venice’s history, craft, and culture, undertaken with “deep respect for what came before.” He emphasizes that his aim is to honor tradition while creating “something contemporary,” envisioning the palazzo as “a platform for contemporary work” built atop its centuries of heritage.
