In January 1996 La Fenice opera house in Venice, Italy burned down, leaving only the original masonry walls intact. These walls created a powerful and dramatic space, with masonry openings that recalled Corbusier's chapel at Ronchomp.

The proposed renovation of La Fenice utilizes the remaining masonry shell to create theatrical frames for actors or audience members that are accessible through a series of steel walkways wrapping around the exterior. The project proposes a vertical, contemporary urban theater in the heart of Venice through a reinterpretation of the historical fabric.