M9 is a small museum district in Mestre, the mainland gateway to Venice. An agent of urban renewal, this museum of the cultural inheritance of the 20th century is also an educational institution and events venue that is aimed to provide a point of local identification that helps to redress the disparity of cultural wealth between Mestre and the tourist magnet across the lagoon. Moving away from the trends that emerged from the ‘Bilbao Effect,’ the ensemble sets out to improve the urban fabric and become a meeting point and catalyst for local activities.

The scheme comprises two new buildings for the museum and its offices, a pair of small concrete structures housing complementary uses, plus the converted Convento delle Grazie, whose cloister is transformed into a covered piazza that houses cafés, small shops, and offices. In the museum itself, a long, dramatic staircase leads from the ground floor up to the galleries and event spaces. The permanent exhibition occupies two ‘black box’ floors containing an entirely digital interactive display on the history of modern Italy, while temporary exhibitions are housed in a naturally lit ‘white box’ on the uppermost floor.