M9 is a museum of the cultural inheritance of the 20th century, located in a small museum quarter in Mestre, the mainland gateway to Venice. This educational institution and events venue is envisioned as an agent of urban renewal, providing identity and forming a local landmark that works to counterbalance the disparity of cultural wealth with the world-famous city across the lagoon.
The M9 campus consists of a large museum and a smaller building to house office and admin functions, together with a former convent and an office building. Together they frame a new public square and open up a diagonal pedestrian link from Piazza Erminia Ferretto to the important thoroughfare of Via Cappuccina. This lively route filled with cafés, restaurants and shops passes through the courtyard of the 16th-century Convento delle Grazie, which was renovated and converted as part of the intervention.
The museum building offers public facilities on the ground floor, including a media library, an auditorium, a museum shop and a café. A long, dramatic staircase leads up to the galleries and event spaces. The permanent exhibition occupies two ‘black box’ floors and takes a narrative approach to the history of modern Italy, while temporary exhibitions are housed in a naturally lit ‘white box’ on the top floor.
- Mies van der Rohe Award 2019, shortlist - Polis Award 2017, recognition - International Urban Project Award 2019, shortlist - Premio Pietro Torta 2019 - Otto Borst Prize for Urban Renewal 2020 - The Plan Award 2020
