The finishing of surfaces in the work of Carlo Scarpa

The authors explore the fundamental value of surface finishes in the work of Carlo Scarpa, particularly the Venetian master’'s remarkable skill with the ancient Italian technique of Stucco. The first part of the essay investigates the roots of Scarpa’'s interest in this technique, his collaborations with artists and craftsmen, and how it influenced his architectural vision. The second part focuses on the museum complex of Castelvecchio, in Verona, Scarpa’'s masterpiece, to examine how the beauty of the works of art on display is combined with the materiality of the environments he defined. Here, a perfect and vibrant union enhances the visitors’' sensory experience. Notably, it is shown how, over the years, this ideal and untouchable balance has served as an active principle for defining new exhibition opportunities and unexpected symbiotic affinities.