Re-development of the Genoa Old Harbour
A vast exhibition project that evolved into an urban renewal plan. The 1992 Columbus Celebrations presented a great opportunity to restore the long-broken connection between Genoa’s historic center and its old harbor, the Porto Antico. The regeneration project for Piazza Caricamento and the docks included plans to renovate several historic port buildings and construct new structures. Among these were the Bigo and the Aquarium, which soon became iconic landmarks, attracting visitors and revitalizing this part of the city.
Adapting existing infrastructure for temporary events and long term urban transformation
Building on previous redevelopment studies for the Porto Antico—extensions of the District Workshop’s experiments with “lightness”—the work carried out for the Columbus Celebrations leveraged the event’s energy and funding to bring lasting improvements to public space and infrastructure. Rather than serving as a temporary exhibition, the project became a catalyst for permanent urban renewal, reshaping the area and enhancing its connection to the city.
Reintegrating Genoa with its harbor was a priority. Over time, their natural relationship had been severed by accumulating physical barriers. The thick customs offices and warehouses built in the 19th century formed an initial divide, later compounded by the imposing pylons of the elevated motorway constructed in 1965. This concrete ribbon, still an unresolved presence over the Porto Antico, continues to loom over an otherwise vibrant waterfront, underscoring the need for thoughtful urban intervention.
Burying roads to create a public waterfront
As part of the Columbus Celebrations, partially burying the roads underground marked a crucial first step in restoring a spacious esplanade facing the sea at Piazza Caricamento. This transformation revitalized the area, creating a vibrant hub where tourists and locals now gather, seamlessly connecting the square to the old harbor and docks.
A plan that embeds long term adaptability and reuse of existing structures
The redevelopment plan envisioned the old buildings and harbor spaces as elements of a vast, dismantled factory—a shoreline with immense environmental and symbolic potential. While the immediate goal was to create installations for the Columbus anniversary exhibition, the project also laid the foundation for a long-term urban renewal strategy aimed at returning the waterfront to the people of Genoa. Planners identified several existing structures for varying degrees of renovation, from subtle restorations of historic buildings to the adaptive reuse of large, industrial spaces. The design prioritized movement through the site and the visual relationships between its elements, striking a balance between preservation and innovation in harmony with the city’s growth.
The area’s adaptability allowed for later additions, ensuring its continued evolution. The revitalized Cotton Warehouse, Millo, and Customs Warehouse became integral parts of a vast recreational and exhibition space, blending seamlessly with newly constructed landmarks like the Bigo and the Aquarium. Though highly contemporary in design, these new structures complement the harbor’s historic character, reinforcing the site’s renewed identity as a dynamic public destination.
Details on Foundation website
Project Details
Status
Client
City of Genoa + Porto Antico SpA
Design
Renzo Piano Building Workshop, architects
Phase One (Columbus International Exposition), 1985-92
Design Team
S.Ishida (partner), E.Baglietto, G.Bianchi, M.Carroll, O.De Nooyer, G.Grandi, D.Hart, C.Manfreddo, R.V.Truffelli(architects in charge) with P.Bodega, V.Tolu and A.Arancio, M.Cucinella, G.Fascioli, E.L.Hegerl, M.Mallamaci, G.McMahon, M.Michelotti, A.Pierandrei, F.Pierandrei, S.Smith, R.Venelli, L.Vercelli and F.Doria, M.Giacomelli, S.Lanzon, B.Merello, M.Nouvion, G.Robotti, A.Savioli; S.D’Atri, S.De Leo, G.Langasco, P.Persia (CAD Operators); D.Lavagna (models)
Consultants
Ove Arup & Partners (structural engineering for the Bigo); L.Mascia/D.Mascia, P.Costa, L.Lembo, V.Nascimbene, B.Ballerini, G.Malcangi, Sidercard, M.Testone, G.F.Visconti (other structures); Manens Intertecnica (building services); STED (cost consultant); D.Commins (acoustics); Scene (stage equipment); P.Castiglioni (lighting); M.Semino (supervisor of historic areas and buildings); Cambridge Seven Associates (aquarium consultant); Cetena (naval engineer); Origoni & Steiner (graphics); L. Moni (site supervision)
Curator for the Italian Pavilion exhibition
G.Macchi
Wind sculptures
S.Shingu
General contractor and Project Manager
Italimpianti
Phase Two, 1993-2001
Design Team
D.Hart, R.V.Truffelli (partners in charge), D.Piano with M.Carroll, S.Ishida (partners), G.Chimeri, F.De Cillia, D.Magnano, C.Pigionanti, V.Tolu, D.Vespier and M.Nouvion, M.Piazza, F.Santolini; G.Langasco, M.Ottonello (CAD Operators); S.Rossi (model maker)
Consultants
Ove Arup & Partners (services engineering and environmental studies for the Bolla); Rocca-Bacci & Associati, E.Lora (other building services); Polar Glassin System (structural engineering for the Bolla); B.Ballerini (other structures); STED, Austin Italia, Tekne (cost consultants); M.Gronda (naval engineer); P.Nalin (roads and associated infrastructure); Studio Galli (sewerage networks); P.Castiglioni (lighting); G.Marini, C.Manfreddo (fire prevention); P.Varratta (graphic design); Techint (consulting executive architect)
