Parallel Cities

Venice is a major tourist destination that attracts millions of people from all around the world. However, its massive tourism threatens the loss of city's livability. With the entire city so focused on tourism, there is a dearth of housing, services and amenities, and jobs for residents. Also, the city's preservation policy does not allow any new development, forcing the city to stay in the past without moving forward to future. As a result, the city of Venice is facing a shrinking population and turning into a museum city or Italy's Disneyland.

This thesis demonstrates how new development can occur in a historic city without sacrificing the historic value of the city fabric, and how the coexistence of both tourists and residents can positively impact on the city.