GENOA
Waterfront Development / Masterplanning / Reuse of Industrial Sites
Client - Autorita Portuale De Genova
Architect- OMA / Renzo Piano
Program-
Cost-
The Port of Genoa is unique in as much as it extends along a 22-kilometre stretch of coastline, effectively surrounded by the city, with the result that a large part of the working port coastline has the dual function of urban waterfront. Consequently, the Port Authority seeks to pave the way for a competitive port and for a healthy local economy, whilst also focusing greater attention on environmental issues.
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It has a population of almost 600 000 inhabitants in the city limits and of over 1,5 million in the metropolitan area. The region has the typical north Mediterranean topography, with mountains with peaks form 600 to 1000 meters high near or directly by the coast. This context has been at the same time an advantage and a problem for the urban settlements and ports. The coastline creates natural ports and the deep water allows easy access for the modern ships, but at the same time the fact that the terrain is so complex complicates the creation of large flat surfaces for major infrastructure such as ports and airports.
The first important interventions in the Genoese waterfront took place for the 1992 World Exhibition, celebrating the 500 years of the discovery of America by Columbus (allegedly Genovese, but its nationality is always a subject of controversy). The plan for the waterfront regeneration was made by Genoa´s most famous contemporary architect, Renzo Piano.
The new Port Master Plan is a bold response to the need to identify a new model for port development, in collaboration with local government and the other public and private stakeholders, and to improve relations between the port and the city which in Genoa live side by side.
There are specific areas where this dichotomy is heightened. The Prà container terminal, the cruise/ferry areas in the historical part of the port and the shipbuilding / repair sector are three examples of the complex relationship between enhanced port activities and the surrounding urban fabric and they are also examples of concerted planning on the part of Local Government and the Port Authority.
A mix of planning ideas and “immaterial” actions has been proposed to meet both port operational and urban regeneration requirements and to improve the integration of the working port.
“We propose a combination of manipulations; efficient infrastructure and logistics restructure a former infrastructure clot, freeing land for new program. Mutual exchange of territory between city and harbour improve conditions for development. The introduction of port related manufacturing and assemblage allows the city to generate income from the passing flow of commodities between sea and hinterland.”
OMA, 1997
REFERENCES
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http://oma.eu/projects/genoa-port
https://theportandthecity.wordpress.com/2015/11/29/the-italian-case-genoa/
