Taranto Port-City Waterfront

Client: Port System Authority of the Ionian Sea – Port of Taranto
Program: Coastal defense interventions and pedestrian paths in the dock adjacent to Calata 1 of the Port of Taranto; Coastal defense interventions and pedestrian paths in the state property area in front of the walls of the Old City
Location: Taranto, Italy
Year: 2020
Total cost of the work: € 20.864.400,00
Service: Design
Coordination: MAS – Modern Apulian Style
Architecture and Landscape: MAS – Modern Apulian Style, Peluffo & Partners Architecture
Responsabile di progetto: Arch. Francesco Lasigna
Team: Arch. Francesco Lasigna, Arch. Domenico Faraco, Arch. Daniela Cavallo, Arch. Damiano Castelli, Arch. Mariagrazia Dalò, Arch. Antonella Carella, Ing. Stefano Dal Sasso, Ing. Umberto Gallo, Ing. Natale Giovinazzi, Dott. Gianfranco Dimitri (archeologo), Dott. Vincenzo Favale (geologo)
Rendering: © Peluffo & Partners Architecture

Description: The Port-City Waterfront project is not only a coastal defense infrastructure but also a tool for the revitalization of the historic city center and the enhancement of the architectural, archaeological, cultural, environmental and naturalistic heritage of the city. In the Porta Napoli area, where now stands a terminal bus, a new park will be born which, degrading towards the sea, will form an amphitheater that will allow to admire the city from a new point of view. The walk will continue on the Ponte di Pietra and then on the Sant’Eligio pier up to a new footbridge, built on poles with reversible technologies, over the sea under the Aragonese walls of the Old City. This walk on the sea will open up in large squares, creating new spaces for leisure, culture and services for the city. Lifts will be placed at various points to allow access for the disabled and also to serve exits from the hypogeum and connect the infrastructure to the city’s historical and archaeological sites. The walk will culminate near the Aragonese Castle where a connection will be sought with its gardens and where an extension of Piazza Castello will be created at sea level. Furthermore, in view of the 2026 Mediterranean Games and the Mediterranean Biennial, this project can be functional to these major events as it may become a landing place for boats for competitions and a place for open-air artistic exhibitions.