Access to open green space is limited within Genoa’s dense urban fabric, where the historic center is constrained between the sea and surrounding hills. The project therefore introduces a significant public landscape element by transforming the roof of Pavilion S into an elevated meadow. Positioned above the waterfront activity, this space functions as a public lookout and informal recreational area, conceived as a pause within the larger waterfront route.
A continuous promenade forms the primary pedestrian axis of the development. Its fluid geometry guides movement across the site while widening in specific locations to accommodate cafés, shops and public gathering points. Ground floors along the promenade are dedicated to active public uses, including retail, workshops and nautical-related programs. Berth Island concentrates a mix of housing, hospitality and offices, while maintaining publicly accessible spaces along the waterfront and around sheltered squares.
The existing Pavilion S is preserved and adapted to accommodate a mix of sports, leisure and commercial functions, reducing its dependence on occasional large events. A new ramp connects the promenade to the reinforced roof, extending the public route upward into the elevated landscape. Residential buildings are arranged to ensure adequate sunlight and views toward the water, while a diverse mix of unit types — from compact studios to larger family apartments and waterfront townhouses — supports a varied residential community within the new district.
Project team: Evgeniy Shchetinkin, Lukasz Kaczmarczyk, Daria Guzun, Alexandra Razina, Sergei Meshalkin | In collaboration with Blank Architects
3D Visualization: Rostislav Nikolaev as Archirost