Francesco e Paolo Zanon

The workshop of Francesco and Paolo Zanon, master blacksmiths and ironworkers, was founded by their father, Gino, in 1942 near Sant’Alvise. Starting as teenagers, Francesco and Paolo mastered traditional blacksmithing techniques like forging, tempering, and engraving. By the 1960s, they expanded into architectural ironwork, forging a defining collaboration with architect Carlo Scarpa that spanned three decades.

Their work with Scarpa began with the Olivetti Showroom in St. Mark’s Square and extended to projects such as the Querini Stampalia Foundation, Casa Balboni, and the Brion Tomb. Scarpa’s meticulous, hand-drawn designs—often annotated with color codes and dimensions—demanded extraordinary precision and adaptability. The Zanons’ ability to interpret these intricate plans and adjust them during production made them indispensable to Scarpa. The relationship thrived on mutual respect, with the Zanons’ craftsmanship giving tangible form to Scarpa’s vision in iron and metal.

Francesco, with his intuitive creativity, specialized in sculptural and artistic projects, while Paolo’s expertise with machinery ensured precision in structural elements. Together, they created complex metalworks, often favoring mechanical jointing over soldering to maintain structural integrity. Their workshop is a living testament of their legacy—a trove of prototypes, maquettes, and tools from these collaborations.