TStudio - Guendalina Salimei
TStudio - Guendalina Salimei

Waterfront Messina

Messina - Metropolitan City of Messina - Sicily Region - Italy

TITLE

Urban, architectural and functional redevelopment of the maritime state property area between the Boccetta and Annunziata creeks in the City of Messina

CLIENT

Strait Port System Authority - Messina

TYPE OF INTERVENTION

Urban Renovation

STATE

1 Award - in progress

Waterfront Messina

Messina - Città Metropolitana di Messina - Regione Sicilia - Italia

TITLE

Urban, architectural and functional redevelopment of the maritime state property area between the Boccetta and Annunziata creeks in the City of Messina

CLIENT

Strait Port System Authority - Messina

TYPE OF INTERVENTION

Urban Renovation

STATE

1 Award - in progress

Redesigning Messina's waterfront entails restoring the city’s connection to the sea, reclaiming the spatial continuity of the urban frontage—once defined by defensive walls and later by the colonnades of Simone Gulli and Giacomo Minutoli, both of which were destroyed by the earthquakes of 1783 and 1908. In the redevelopment project, the continuity of the colonnade has been reimagined through the redesign of the ground plane, projecting the spatial integration of the city and the sea onto a horizontal dimension. Ground modelling becomes the key strategy to shape this segment of the city, bridging its separation from the sea while simultaneously integrating pivotal landmarks such as the former Exhibition Centre, the historic garden, and the port areas.

A lounge between the land and the sea

The design of the new waterfront is anchored by the creation of a continuous linear infrastructure with inherent depth and mineral solidity: a “parterre” that consolidates a network of connections and functional nodes. The public space system penetrates the redeveloped area of the former Exhibition Centre, extends along the coastline, integrates with piers, overlooks marinas and recreational docks, and interacts with the surrounding urban fabric, fostering a dialogue with key landmarks of the city’s identity. The parterre assumes a central role as the interface where people and architecture converge, establishing sequences of spaces, defining pathways, and identifying places for communal engagement.
Water, once integral to Messina’s streets, will be reintroduced through fountains and reflective pools. The project prioritises the design of the "background" over conventional architectural "figures," employing green surfaces, permeable pavements, and sectional variations to drain, re-green, and embrace the sea. These strategies lay the foundation for a vast park that enhances the ground’s capacity to absorb rainwater, accommodate marine water, conserve water resources, host vegetation, and improve environmental comfort.
Starting from the Boccetta stream, the promenade will offer access at various levels through enhanced ramps and stairways. At street level, a stepped seating system will welcome visitors and citizens. Two parallel systems—the green network and the seaside walkway—merge into a single expansive linear park, incorporating the historic Ex Irrera a Mare, a renowned cultural events venue. Further along, a large plaza connects the Church of Porto Salvo with the existing colonnade and the "Promenade," stretching from Viale della Libertà to the New Marina.
Along this grand boulevard, tourism-oriented structures such as hotels, luxury retail spaces, restaurants, and artisan shops will be accessible, even to those arriving by sea. The promenade continues through the park’s sports area, leading to another focal point beyond the Giostra stream: on one side, an auditorium with underground parking, a ground-floor commercial area, and an open-air rooftop arena; on the other, a 60-metre Ferris wheel serving as an iconic structure and vantage point for the surrounding landscape. The new Marina will feature docking piers with dedicated services and research facilities adjacent to the restored beach, achieved through replenishment systems.

A protected area will accommodate boat maintenance, alongside facilities for bathing and water sports, culminating in the renovated and redefined tennis and sailing club. A range of sustainable energy strategies will be implemented, including solar energy systems (photovoltaic and thermal), wave energy technologies, and other innovative solutions. Sustainable design principles will ensure that both new buildings and refurbished structures are energy-efficient, employing internal and external material stratification techniques.

The new Messina waterfront—emerging as a cultural, recreational, and economic hub for exploring sustainable maritime development strategies—will re-establish the Mediterranean Sea as "Mare Nostrum," the heart of economic exchanges among bordering nations, restoring the Sicilian city to prominence as a centre of the Mediterranean.
Credits

DESIGN ARCHITECTS Guendalina Salimei – Tstudio | Ai Engineering s.r.l. | Ai Studio – Associazione Professionale | Akkad Società di Ingegneria srl | Urban Future Organization S.R.L. | AG&P greenscape S.r.l. | Studio Associato “Miceli Ingegneri Associati”

GEOLOGO Fabio Nicita

3D Views

TStudio

Critelli, F., Il nuovo lungomare di Messina è un assaggio della prossima Biennale. In: “DomusWeb,” ultimo aggiornamento 05 gennaio 2025.

Projects category