The FACTORY
THE FACTORY
While Venice was under French domination, the former convent was used as an infirmary, a warehouse, a stable and as a garrison. It was finally abandoned for decades, until Venice fell under the Austrian domination.
With the advent of the Industrial Revolution, while under Austrian domination, the Giudecca island became the industrial zone of Venice.
Multiple manufacturing enterprises, typically under German ownership, sprouted up all over the island, including the Stucky (flour mills), Dreher (beer) and Junghans (clocks) factories. These new industrial factories provided thousands of jobs for Venetians during difficult economic times.
In 1887, the former church was sold to a private company owned by the Herion family, which transferred its garment factory from the center of Venice to the new industrial hub on the Giudecca.
The ex-church was transformed into a factory for the production of yarns and textile products: Fabbrica Herion. The building was organized into 3 industrial floors, completely obliterating the open -- floor-to-ceiling -- ambiance of the original church. The production floors extend all the way into the 3 apses and the frescos were whitewashed.
A 4th floor was added at the apex of the dome, where frescoes were preserved for the boss's office up above the entire factory.
The adjoining buildings that are part of the complex were used as 'deposito' (warehouse) for the raw and finished materials processed by the factory which employed 600 workers at its peak.
In 1980, the factory was acquired by the Gardini Group together with the adjoining 'Villa Herion'.
The factory produced garments for 100 years until it was closed down in 1987.