How does Venice work? A must see video showing how Venice was built, is maintained, and it’s infamous interactions with water. High quality production, and very educational. Electric, gas, and fiber optics are buried beneath the sidewalks. The place is always under restoration. It even describes in detail how the sewers work and where the gunk goes (if you’ve been to Venice, you probably know it’s nasty at low-tide, this shows why).

Still, the place is sinking, and I’ve raised the question if it should be abandoned or saved. It’s primarily a tourist attraction, having little cultural significance beyond architecture. It will cost billions to save Venice from sea level rise. It’s difficult for me to advocate saving a place where barely anyone lives.

The video was produced by a company called Insula. Insula was created by the City of Venice for the purpose of restoration and planning:

Insula is responsible for the process of implementing public works and infrastructure: it plans, designs, tenders and coordinates the execution of works and services for the urban and building maintenance vital to the preservation of the city.

• ordinary and extraordinary maintenance
• restoration, regeneration, renovation, new construction
• management of real-estate assets
• canal maintenance
• preservation of the building heritage along the canals
• restoration of the sewer system
• upgrade and reorganization of the underground utilities systems
• execution of the works and actions involved in the physical and environmental preservation of Venice and its lagoon as required by law 171/1973, art. 12 of Dpr 791/73.
• Source: Brochure

Insula’s website is beautiful and well designed. There are sections for photos, restoration, videos, and education. There are also brochures explaining what Insula does, including the processes and materials it uses for Venice, here.

Thanks to the wonderful CondeNastTraveler Tumblr!

What we’re watching right now—thanks, @kressie42, for the link.

(via condenasttraveler)