16 April 2025 |
Located in San Servolo, the space is designed to educate visitors on sustainability.
Ocean conservation has been a core tenet for Prada Group’s corporate and social responsibility division. We’ve seen that with their short films released in conjunction with National Geographic. Add to that Prada Possible Conversation in Tokyo as well as playing a part in Ocean Literacy World Conference hosted by UNESCO, it’s evident that it’s a cause they take seriously. The latest initiative? They, along with UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), launched the Sea Beyond Ocean Literacy Center. Based on the Venetian island San Servolo, which is surrounded by a lagoon, the location encourages visitors to reflect on the relationship between land and sea, on humanity, and their impact on the natural world. This new project, part of the educational initiative Sea Beyond launched in 2019, aims to foster public understanding and encourage positive behavior.
Consisting of three spaces, each guiding the visitors through the concept of looking at things from a macro to micro-level, the first provides a global perspective, the second adopts a local dimension, and the third focuses on the human scale, examining the power of action. The center provides multi-sensory activities and tools, designed to be used by diverse audiences from both Italy and overseas. This includes immersive 3D maps and tactile installations, a lagoon-focused science lab, and guided boat trips. There are also game-based activities to encourage youth involvement as well as a library and multimedia storytelling zone. With its architectural and educational design, the Sea Beyond Ocean Literacy Center emphasizes circular sustainability, “learning by doing”, and a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of aquatic ecosystems.
“The Center’s opening, supported by the contributions of experts from diverse disciplines, means the ocean now has a place where SEA BEYOND’s motto – learn, think, act – can really take shape,” says Lorenzo Bertelli, Prada Group Head of Corporate Social Responsibility.
