Competition

Location:	Portici, Italy
Services:	Concept and urban regeneration strategy

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Portici is a town in southern Italy bordered by Naples to the north, the Gulf of Naples to the west and Vesuvius to the east. Despite its location in a region of outstanding natural beauty and historical interest, Portici struggles to attract the visitors that flock to neighbouring towns. By reconnecting with its waterfront and beaches, Portici can join its neighbours as a go-to destination on the region’s tourist trail.

Losing out on the tourist pound

The international competition brief challenged entrants to deliver a large scale strategy to transform Portici and place it firmly on the region’s tourist map. Separated from its waterfront by a railway line, the brief required the provision of a new railway station and the reinvigoration of the entire waterfront, including access to the town and its Railway Museum via a new harbour arm.

A new waterfront park

Our proposal creates a beautiful new waterfront park for Portici, screened from the noise of the railway by dense vegetation, and with direct access to the town’s beaches.

New connections to and from the high street are opened up, with new public spaces creating a dynamic urban seafront. A limited palette of surface materials, - pedestrian, shared-use and natural – along with carefully considered lighting, signage, street furniture and planting creates a cohesive whole and reflects the local landscape.

The new train station is a bridge building on two levels. The station itself is on the lower level and an elevated promenade is created on the upper, further connecting the town to its seaside and providing spectacular views out to sea and towards Vesuvius. The new harbour arm is accessed from the town via a generous public plaza, a flexible space that can be used for a wide variety of events and activities.