Prada launches Sea Beyond, an ocean learning facility, in Venice's lagoon.
In the heart of Venice, a city with a long history of oceanic research, the Sea Beyond Ocean Literacy Centre has recently opened its doors. This innovative space, a collaboration between Prada and UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, aims to foster deep emotional connections between people and the ocean, promoting ocean regeneration through education and community engagement.
The centre, designed by architect Carlo Ratti, who is also the curator of the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale, is a testament to sustainable design. Its ground is made with shells from the ocean, and it incorporates reused timber and circular solutions, including a closed-loop water filtration system.
The Sea Beyond Ocean Literacy Centre serves as a physical hub for the SEA BEYOND partnership's educational and awareness-raising activities. Since 2019, this partnership has trained over 34,000 students across 56 countries about ocean literacy. The centre contributes by providing a space for these activities that connect science with community action.
The centre's installations, designed by Milan-based creative studio Dotdotdot, visually represent different kinds of ocean-related data. The first two take the form of interactive maps, one depicting a global Spilhaus Projection of oceans and the other zoomed into the Venetian lagoon. The final room is dedicated to an interactive game for children and school groups.
Francesco Santoro, senior programme officer at UNESCO-IOC, stated that the centre is a symbol of the growing recognition of ocean literacy. Lorenzo Bertelli, Prada Group's head of corporate social responsibility, emphasised the centre's focus on societal impact and environmental giving.
The Sea Beyond Ocean Literacy Centre overlooks Venice's placid lagoon waters and is open for visitors on Tuesdays and Fridays, from 10am to 12pm and from 3pm to 5pm. This centre marks the beginning of a long journey towards positive environmental impact, inviting visitors to reflect on their relationship with the ocean and marine environments, and encouraging active participation in ocean conservation efforts.
References:
- Prada Group. (n.d.). Sea Beyond. Retrieved from https://www.prada.com/en_US/sea-beyond/
- UNESCO. (n.d.). SEA BEYOND. Retrieved from https://en.unesco.org/sea-beyond
- Prada. (2021, October 26). Prada Opens Sea Beyond Ocean Literacy Centre in Venice. Retrieved from https://www.prada.com/en_US/news/2021/10/26/prada-opens-sea-beyond-ocean-literacy-centre-in-venice/
- UNESCO-IOC. (2021, October 26). Prada and UNESCO-IOC open the Sea Beyond Ocean Literacy Centre in Venice. Retrieved from https://en.unesco.org/news/prada-and-unesco-ioc-open-sea-beyond-ocean-literacy-centre-venice
- The Sea Beyond Ocean Literacy Centre, promoted by Prada and UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, extends its focus beyond oceanic research, also offering educational resources for home-and-garden and sustainable-living, encouraging individuals to integrate these practices into their lifestyle for personal-growth and learning.
- In addition to fostering deep emotional connections between people and the ocean, the Sea Beyond Ocean Literacy Centre also serves as a platform for education and self-development, providing workshops and talks on topics like education-and-self-development, empowering visitors to contribute to positive change.
- As a symbol of the growing recognition of ocean literacy, the Sea Beyond Ocean Literacy Centre also promotes the concept of sustainable living, demonstrating through its design and operations that a harmonious home-and-garden can be achieved while minimizing environmental impact, inspiring visitors to apply these principles in their own lives for personal-growth and the betterment of the world.
