Dries Van Noten foundation to open in April 2026
The Fondazione Dries Van Noten will launch in April 2026 within the historic Palazzo Pisani Moretta in Venice, placing craftsmanship—understood as both a tangible and imaginative endeavor—at the center of its new cultural initiative. Overlooking the Grand Canal and nestled between the Rialto Bridge and Ca’ Foscari, the foundation is housed in a landmark palazzo. It aims to establish making as a vital foundation for cultural creation, transmission, and renewal. “Venice is more than a weekend destination; it’s a thriving city, alive with markets, young residents, and a unique cultural energy,” Dries Van Noten observes.
Originally constructed in the late 15th century in the Venetian Gothic Fiorito style, Palazzo Pisani Moretta later became the home of the Pisani Moretta family. The residence underwent significant Rococo renovations between 1735 and 1750 under Chiara Pisani’s direction (see designboom’s previous coverage here). In the late 20th century, the palazzo was restored, and today it retains many of its original furnishings and artworks, featuring paintings by Giambattista Tiepolo, Jacopo Guarana, Gaspare Diziani, and Giuseppe Angeli. The Fondazione will activate these historic interiors, integrating them into its programming and allowing the rich layers of Venetian history to coexist and interact with contemporary cultural initiatives.
all images courtesy of Fondazione Dries Van Noten
A palazzo shaped by centuries of Venetian craft
The core mission of Fondazione Dries Van Noten revolves around a broad vision of craftsmanship—one that goes beyond conventional craft to include the gestures, skills, and time-honored processes that bring ideas into the physical world.
This inclusive approach recognizes both historical techniques and modern experimentation as part of a continuous evolution, not as opposing forces. The foundation’s programming is rooted in exchange rather than hierarchy, facilitating dialogue between established experts and emerging talents. This encourages cross-disciplinary connections between fields that are often institutionally separated: architecture and fashion, culinary arts and design, material research and artistic practice. The aim is to highlight the shared origins of these diverse practices in hands-on engagement with materials and human creativity.
Venice itself is essential to the foundation’s vision. Located among the city’s bridges and narrow streets (calli), Fondazione Dries Van Noten grounds its activities in the daily rhythms of Venetian life, linking local expertise with a larger international perspective. By opening the doors of Palazzo Pisani Moretta to the public for curated events and programs, the foundation continues the palazzo’s legacy and presents craftsmanship as a dynamic tradition—one that both preserves and reinvents cultural heritage.
<img decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1169739 lazyload" bad-src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" alt="fondazione dries van noten to open in april 2026, reactivating historic venetian palazzo" width="818" height="1227" src="https://static
