FORTUNY + CHAHAN
Reimagining the Palazzina
Discover the new installment of FORTUNY + CHAHAN at the Fortuny Palazzina. During Biennale Architettura 2025, experience a private showcase where timeless design and expert curation dialogue with our eternal artistry.
Step inside the Fortuny Palazzina on the island of Giudecca and immerse yourself in an exclusive installation curated by Chahan Minassian, featuring our legendary textiles, Pierre Sabatier’s monumental sculptural walls, and the refined works of Harumi Klossowska de Rola.
Private tours are available by appointment for collectors, connoisseurs, and design professionals throughout the Biennale season.
The rooms
Every space within the Palazzina has been thoughtfully imagined and designed. Discover how Chahan Minassian’s refined taste and curatorial eye expertly bring together iconic works by Pierre Sabatier, our new ARMONIA collection, and sculptures by Harumi Klossowska de Rola, all in perfect harmony.
GALLERY: SEBASTIEN VERONESE IMAGES
The evolution of the Fortuny Palazzina—from its industrial origins to a luxurious residence and gallery—is a living tribute to our legacy of art, craftsmanship, and the enduring soul of beauty.
Mickey Riad, Creative Director and Owner at Fortuny
The Legacy
Original drawings of the first restoration project, 1958
While visiting the Carnavalet Museum in Paris in 1927, New York interior designer Elsie McNeill Lee encountered Fortuny’s fabrics covering the walls of the portrait gallery. Captivated by their beauty, she believed they would be perfect for interior designers and architects in the United States. Upon traveling to Venice, she met and convinced Mariano Fortuny of her vision and became his sole distributor. After his passing in 1949, Elsie managed the company for over forty years at the request of his widow, Henriette Negrin.
Elsie moved to Venice, making her home in a building facing the canal on the island of Giudecca, adjacent to what is now part of the iconic Fortuny headquarters. She married Italian Count Alvise Gozzi in 1959, becoming Countess Elsie Lee Gozzi. The Palazzina, connected to the factory that remains the heart of the Fortuny ecosystem, was built as her home between 1958 and 1961.
Construction of the Fortuny Palazzina, circa 1958.
Foyer
A graceful bridge between the Palazzina’s façade and the courtyard leading to the factory and garden, the foyer features rare Italian marble floors and elegant fluted columns that frame the distinctive staircase designed by the legendary Venetian architect Luigi Vietti, setting the stage for an immersive experience of the Palazzina.
GALLERY: SEBASTIEN VERONESE IMAGES
Featured textiles
The Boudoir
Formerly the Palazzina's dining room, the Boudoir now offers an intimate retreat, perfect for after-dinner conversation or a quiet moment of reflection.
SEBASTIEN VERONESE (1,3,4) - bRENDA NUSENOVICH (2,5)
The Bedroom
Originally the Countess' dressing room, this space seamlessly blends the intricate beauty of built-in wooden marquetry with the soft tranquility of our fabric, a perfectly cozy environment that evokes both warmth and elegance.
SEBASTIEN VERONESE (1,3,4) - bRENDA NUSENOVICH (2,5)
Featured textiles
The Fumoir
Once the Palazzina's original bedroom, The Fumoir now provides an inviting space for a post-dinner cordial or a friendly game of cards.
SEBASTIEN VERONESE (1,3,5) - bRENDA NUSENOVICH (2,4)
Featured textiles
The Mirror room
For years, this room served as the Countess' private sitting room, an intimate space for reading and entertaining close friends. Fully reimagined, mirrors now cover the walls, drawing the spectacular view into the room. The sheer window treatments, inspired by the shape of Venetian Gothic windows, filter the morning light and create an illusion of endless space when drawn open.
SEBASTIEN VERONESE (2,5,6) - bRENDA NUSENOVICH (1,3,4)
The Ballroom
The only space in the Palazzina to visually connect the Giudecca Canal and the spectacular views of Venice to the north and east with the magical garden on the southern side, the ballroom offers a dramatic crescendo to the experience. It unites the exterior and interior in a seamless blend of luxurious comfort and light.