Studio Saor: a creative duo exploring Venice through architecture and illustration

Venice is a city about which everything seems to have already been said, a place where the streets have been walked upon by millions of people.
But is it actually like this? Or can each of us add or see something new?

I don’t know if I have already shared with you that one of my favorite movies is Smoke, with Harvey Keitel. In the movie he is the owner of a tobacco shop and a passionate amateur photographer. He takes the same picture, from the same viewpoint at the same hour everyday. In one scene, a friend of his, while looking at his work, tells him that the images are all the same. To this, Keitel replies pointing out the details, the way the change of weather affect the atmosphere, the different light, all the passers-by, each with their own story, so personal yet so universal. Until at one point, his friend recognizes in one of the photos his wife, who had died some time earlier, and -feeling emotional- understands. Every moment, every minute, every second of our life is different and worth noting. We all interpret the world in different ways and it is important to take the time to observe its details.

All this … to introduce you to Cristina and Ferruccio, founders of Saor Studio, two souls that explore the city of Venice almost as situationist artists. Two wanderers who map and narrate Venice’s architecture in an unconventional way, tracing new routes, mental and physical, all the while creating beautiful, playfully witty objects. Here below our brief conversation:

1) Cristina and Ferruccio, tell us a little something about yourselves.

(Cristina) I come from Bassano del Grappa, a small and charming town near Vicenza, and I studied architecture in Venice. I’ve always been passionate about art history, design, and fashion, and this study path was perfect to embrace my interests.
(Ferruccio) I lived in Mogliano Veneto but came to Venice very often because my grandpa used to live here. He was a painter and always inspired me. I too studied architecture in Venice.

2) Saor. How was the project born and why this name?

When we started thinking about a name for our project, we wanted something truly Venetian. We were brainstorming with a friend and many names came up, but Saor was definitely the one that caught our interest: the idea of a dish/preparation that takes time to become tastier sounded like something we could apply to our work.

3) What do you love the most about illustration and architecture?

We have always loved studying and drawing architecture, ever since our university days. This passion came from our background at school but also from our interest in maps, cartography, and the history of cities and urban design. Our minds work this way: what better method to understand how a place works than to draw it?

4) Your wanderings around lesser known islands and their translation into images. Can you share your favorite places and any curiosity?

Our illustration of the islands of the lagoon was our first project—everything started from there! Our idea at the beginning (and we’re still trying to keep it alive today) was to highlight the lesser-known places of Venice and its lagoon, avoiding the big “classics” (how many times have we seen an image of Piazza San Marco or the Rialto Bridge?). That’s why we decided to focus on the islands. We didn’t know much about this territory, and while illustrating them, what interested us most were their historical functions. Islands were often used in the past to isolate people, to keep them away from the city. Some were places of self-isolation (monasteries like San Lazzaro degli Armeni or San Francesco del Deserto), others of imposed isolation, such as mental health hospitals or leper colonies. It was striking to see how huge structures were built to host these institutions, like the buildings on San Clemente, which was a mental health hospital for women.

5) Paper models. How much fun do you have in creating them? Which is the most appreciated (the most sold?)

We started working on paper models just after we opened our shop in 2021. We felt the display was pretty “flat” (we sell posters, postcards, books, and notebooks) and thought we should start going more 3D. Our background in model making (thanks to the many nights we spent building maquettes for our university projects) made us immediately think about paper models! The creative process can be pretty complicated—we don’t use any digital previews but mostly work with 2D drawings and prototypes (you can see plenty of them displayed around the shop). It’s an experimental process, always correcting and testing new techniques to deliver a final product that we can share with a wider audience. The most appreciated one is the Vaporetto, both by kids and adults! It’s such an iconic symbol of the city that it makes the perfect souvenir to bring home.

6) Churches, bridges, campi, and facades on the Grand Canal. Your books prove your love and affection towards the city. What are your hopes for Venice? and how do you believe people (both foreigners and locals) should approach this unique environment?

Our love for this city is huge, and sometimes we feel a bit frustrated to see the direction it’s taking year after year. We’ve been loyal inhabitants for a long time and have seen life here change, becoming less and less “Venetian.” Our hope is for it to become a city where foreigners and locals can truly co-exist (we are adopted Venetians too!), a city where it’s possible to find a home, a job, and share its spaces with other people who love it the same way. The environment is unique, and it has its own rules too! That’s why we think the best way to respect and appreciate this city is to learn how it works—by studying its past and observing how it adapts to the future.

7) How can people learn more about your activity?

You can follow us online, and of course come by our bottega for a chat! Since we opened the shop, we’ve been enjoying face-to-face conversations with our customers, leaving our online presence a bit in the corner. We’ll get back to it too!

8) Do you offer any special experience or workshop?

We’re always happy to host workshops and activities. We’ve done a few in the past with Palazzo Grassi and with students from foreign architecture schools. We recently launched an experience on the Airbnb platform where we stroll around our neighborhood (between Cannaregio and Castello), observe its architectural details, and sketch them in real time.

I am grateful for the time Cristina and Ferruccio dedicated to me and I invite you to visit them when in Venice. In the meantime, you can see their work on their website and follow them on social media.

SAOR STUDIO
Address: Salizada S. Canzian, 5576/A, 30121 Venezia VE
Ig: https://www.instagram.com/studiosaor