Architetture per la memoria. Franca Semi tra ricerca, didattica e progetto

The research aims to document and highlight the legacy of Franca Semi (1943−2019), a close collaborator of Carlo Scarpa, just a few years after her passing. By analyzing the extensive collection of documents held by the Archivio Progetti at the Iuav University of Venice, most of which remain unpublished, the essay reveals her theoretical and practical contributions and the intersections between teaching, research, and project work in her professional and academic career. Central to this investigation is Semi’s perspective on documenting and interpreting the Venetian built environment and, more broadly, historical architecture. Her approach, deeply rooted in her mentor’s legacy, explores and experiments with the interplay between the old and the new, with meticulous attention to detail.
During her academic years, Semi collaborated with Scarpa on significant projects dedicated to monuments such as the theaters of Genoa and Vicenza (1967−69). She authored most of the project drafts for the ambitious Masieri Memorial program in Venice (1968−83) and completed the project as artistic director after Scarpa’s death. She was then charged with the restoration of important public buildings such as Palazzo Tron, Palazzo Zambelli-Pemma, and Palazzo Ariani (1974−79). The archival documentation also testifies to her extensive professional work, focusing on interior architecture for private clients as well as exhibition design.
At Iuav, Semi held the position of associate professor in Interior Design until the early 2000s. The Atlas mentions her only once, in connection with the work of her mentor. However, the pivotal contribution of this woman architect extends beyond her skills in systematizing, clarifying, and updating Scarpa’s legacy (A lezione con Carlo Scarpa, 2010). It also encompasses her ability to forge a distinctive professional identity shaped by her academic studies and original contributions from her practical experience.